Lesson Five : The Magnetic Field of Neutron Stars
The magnetic field on a neutron star is over one billion times stronger than the field on Earth. This strong magnetic field causes the pulsing effect in neutron stars.The magnetic field of a neutron star is a dipole with north and south poles, just like Earth's magnetic field and, indeed, every magnetic field known in the universe. These magnetic poles are not aligned with the axis of spin of the neutron star. Charged particles are accelerated in the magnetic field of the neutron star above the magnetic poles. As they are accelerated through the magnetic field, the charged particles give off radiation. These particles create beams of radiation aligned with each of the magnetic poles.
