https://wikimd.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Neutron_starNeutron star - Revision history2026-04-24T23:20:15ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.44.2https://wikimd.org/index.php?title=Neutron_star&diff=5614470&oldid=prevPrab: CSV import2024-04-16T13:30:23Z<p>CSV import</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[File:Moving_heart_of_the_Crab_Nebula.jpg|Moving heart of the Crab Nebula|thumb]] [[File:PIA18848-PSRB1509-58-ChandraXRay-WiseIR-20141023.jpg|PIA18848-PSRB1509-58-ChandraXRay-WiseIR-20141023|thumb|left]] [[File:Neutronstarsimple.png|left|Neutronstarsimple|thumb]] [[File:Neutronstar_2Rs.svg|left|Neutronstar 2Rs|thumb]] [[Image:Neutron_star_cross_section.svg|left|Neutron star cross section|thumb]] '''Neutron Star'''<br />
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A '''neutron star''' is a type of [[compact star]] that is the remnant of a massive [[star]] after it has undergone a supernova explosion. It is composed almost entirely of [[neutron]]s, subatomic particles with no net electric charge and slightly larger mass than [[proton]]s. Neutron stars are incredibly dense, with masses comparable to that of the [[Sun]], but with radii of only about 10 kilometers (6 miles), leading to densities billions of times greater than that of any material on [[Earth]]. The concept of neutron stars was first proposed by [[Walter Baade]] and [[Fritz Zwicky]] in 1934, shortly after the discovery of the neutron by [[James Chadwick]].<br />
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==Formation==<br />
Neutron stars are formed when the core of a massive star collapses under the force of [[gravity]] during a [[supernova]] explosion. This collapse continues until the densities become so high that protons and electrons combine to form neutrons and neutrinos in a process known as [[neutronization]]. The newly formed neutron star then cools and stabilizes, emitting a burst of neutrinos.<br />
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==Characteristics==<br />
Neutron stars possess extremely strong [[magnetic fields]], billions of times stronger than Earth's magnetic field. These magnetic fields, along with the rapid rotation rates of neutron stars, can lead to the emission of intense electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the form of [[X-rays]] and [[gamma rays]]. When these emissions are observed, the neutron star is often referred to as a [[pulsar]] or a [[magnetar]], depending on the characteristics of the emissions.<br />
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===Pulsars===<br />
[[Pulsar]]s are neutron stars that emit beams of radiation that sweep through Earth's line of sight, producing a pulsed signal that can be detected by [[radio telescopes]]. The first pulsar was discovered in 1967 by [[Jocelyn Bell Burnell]] and [[Antony Hewish]], marking a significant milestone in the study of neutron stars.<br />
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===Magnetars===<br />
[[Magnetar]]s are a type of neutron star with extremely powerful magnetic fields, thousands of times stronger than those of typical pulsars. Magnetars are responsible for emitting intense bursts of X-rays and gamma rays, phenomena known as [[soft gamma repeaters]] and [[anomalous X-ray pulsars]].<br />
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==Significance in Astrophysics==<br />
Neutron stars provide a unique environment for the study of matter under extreme conditions. They are laboratories for [[nuclear physics]], [[quantum mechanics]], and [[general relativity]]. The study of neutron stars can offer insights into the behavior of matter at nuclear densities, the nature of [[gravitational waves]], and the properties of [[neutron-rich matter]], which is relevant for understanding [[nuclear fusion]] processes in stars.<br />
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==See Also==<br />
* [[Black hole]]<br />
* [[White dwarf]]<br />
* [[Stellar evolution]]<br />
* [[Supernova remnant]]<br />
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[[Category:Astronomical objects]]<br />
[[Category:Stars]]<br />
[[Category:Neutron stars]]<br />
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