I How to explain the strange pulsar in the Crab Nebula?

  • I
  • Thread starter Thread starter Line_112
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the pulsar in the Crab Nebula, which is typically understood as a non-accreting neutron star emitting excess X-ray radiation due to its youth and high temperature. Observations show a vortex of gas around the pulsar and a cone of radiation directed away from Earth, raising questions about traditional models of pulsar radiation. The conventional view suggests that radiation from accretion flows in a cone from the magnetic poles, but the observed alignment contradicts this. Participants debate the implications of these observations, with some suggesting that conclusions drawn from images may be overly speculative. The thread was ultimately closed after the original question was deemed answered.
Line_112
Messages
49
Reaction score
2
TL;DR Summary
According to generally accepted ideas, the pulsar in the Crab Nebula is a single non-accreting neutron star, and the excess of X-ray radiation in its spectrum is explained by its young age and high surface temperature. However, in the X-ray photo of the Crab Nebula, a vortex of gas around the pulsar is clearly visible. Moreover, a cone of radiation is visible coming out of the pulsar in the center of the vortex, which is directed far from our direction.
According to generally accepted ideas, the pulsar in the Crab Nebula is a single non-accreting neutron star, and the excess of X-ray radiation in its spectrum is explained by its young age and high surface temperature. However, in the X-ray photo of the Crab Nebula, a vortex of gas around the pulsar is clearly visible. Moreover, a cone of radiation is visible coming out of the pulsar in the center of the vortex, which is directed far from our direction.
According to generally accepted ideas, radiation from gas accretion onto a neutron star spreads in the form of a cone from magnetic poles, to which the accreted matter flows down in the form of a vortex. We see this scheme in the X-ray photo of the pulsar.
In this case, accretion is a random additional phenomenon that showed where the perpendicular from the magnetic pole of the emitting object is directed.
And it is not directed at us, which probably contradicts the generally accepted ideas about the radiation of pulsars (including radio pulsars, of which this pulsar is believed to be a predecessor).

What do you feel about it?
 

Attachments

  • Пульсар в Крабюовидной туманности.webp
    Пульсар в Крабюовидной туманности.webp
    18.3 KB · Views: 19
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Isn't the magnetic dipole perpendicular to its rotation axis?
Or what exactly is your question?
 
It's a pulsar wind nebula, with shock waves and a jet aligned with rotation axis. Not a vortex or a cone of radiation of the type that is producing the pulses.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.05184

Line_112 said:
What do you feel about it?
I feel that, once again, you're trying to form far reaching conclusions based on how a blurry picture looks to you.
 
  • Like
Likes davenn, PeterDonis, Motore and 3 others
Thread closed for Moderation...
 
The question in the original post has been answered, so this thread will remain closed.
 
3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and formerly designated as A11pl3Z, is an iinterstellar comet. It was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station at Río Hurtado, Chile on 1 July 2025. Note: it was mentioned (as A11pl3Z) by DaveE in a new member's introductory thread. https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/brian-cox-lead-me-here.1081670/post-7274146 https://earthsky.org/space/new-interstellar-object-candidate-heading-toward-the-sun-a11pl3z/ One...
Is a homemade radio telescope realistic? There seems to be a confluence of multiple technologies that makes the situation better than when I was a wee lad: software-defined radio (SDR), the easy availability of satellite dishes, surveillance drives, and fast CPUs. Let's take a step back - it is trivial to see the sun in radio. An old analog TV, a set of "rabbit ears" antenna, and you're good to go. Point the antenna at the sun (i.e. the ears are perpendicular to it) and there is...
Back
Top