Transient high energy pulses from magnetars
Scientists have found the first evidence to understand the transient high-energy vibrations emitted by magnetars.
- A magnetar is a type of neutron star. Normally in a neutron star, the magnetic field is trillions of times greater than the Earth’s magnetic field. However, the magnetic field in a magnetar can be up to 1000 times stronger.
- Neutron stars form when a massive star (a star with a core between 1 and 3 solar masses) runs out of fuel and gradually disappears.
- It is to be noted that in this process each proton and electron bond to form a neutron.
- High-mass stars continually merge into stellar-mass black holes.
- Magnetars tolerate strong explosions. Little is known about the unpredictable nature of these eruptions and active for short durations of only one-tenth of a second.
- Recently, scientists have discovered the first evidence to understand these explosions.
- It is thought that explosions in magnetars can be caused by instability in their magnetosphere or by a type of earthquake (star-quake) originating in their crust.
- These star quakes create waves (called Alfven waves) in the magnetars of magnetars.
- These waves dissipate energy while interacting with each other.
Source – The Hindu