Discover
/
Article

A New Class of Pulsars

MAR 01, 1990
Binary pulsars, pulsars with millisecond periods and pulsars in globular clusters are distinguished by their evolutionary histories, and are providing tools for fundamental tests of physics.
Donald C. Backer
Shrinivas R. Kulkarni

In 1939, seven years after the discovery of the neutron, nuclear physicists constructed the first models of a “neutron star.” Stable results were found with masses comparable to the Sun’s and radii of about 10 km.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. A. Hewish, S. J. Bell, J. D. H. Pilkington, P. F. Scott, R. A. Collins, Nature 217, 709 (1968).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  2. 2. J. H. Taylor, D. R. Stinebring, Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 24, 285 (1986).https://doi.org/ARAAAJ

  3. 3. D. J. Helfand, J.‐H. Huang, eds., The Origin and Evolution of Neutron Stars, Proc. IAU Symp. 125, Reidel, Dordrecht, The Netherlands (1986).

  4. 4. N. E. White, L. Filipov, eds., The Physics of Compact Objects—Theory vs Observations, Proc. COSPAR‐IAU Symp., Pergamon, Elmsford, N.Y. (1988).

  5. 5. H. Ögelman, E. P. J. van den Heuvel, eds., Timing Neutron Stars, Proc. NATO Adv. Study Inst., Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands (1989).

  6. 6. F. C. Michel, Rev. Mod. Phys. 54, 1 (1982). https://doi.org/RMPHAT
    V. S. Beskin, A. V. Gurevich, Ya. N. Istomin, Sov. Astron. Lett., 14, 93 (1986)

  7. 7. R. Hulse, J. H. Taylor, Astrophys. J. 195, L51 (1975).

  8. 8. D. C. Backer, S. Kulkarni, C. Heiles, M. M. Davis, W. M. Goss, Nature 300, 615 (1982).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  9. 9. A. S. Fruchter, D. R. Stinebring, J. H. Taylor, Nature 333, 237 (1988).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  10. 10. A. G. Lyne, A. Brinklow, J. Middleditch, S. R. Kulkarni, D. C. Backer, T. R. Clifton, Nature 328, 399 (1987).https://doi.org/NATUAS

  11. 11. S. Anderson, P. Gorham, S. Kulkarni, T. Prince, A. Wolszczan, IAU Circ. nos. 4762 and 4772 (1989).

  12. 12. A. G. Lyne, R. N. Manchester, M.N.R.A.S. 234, 477 (1988).

  13. 13. F. Lamb, in The Physics of Compact Objects—Theory vs Observations, Proc. COSPAR‐IAU Symp., N. E. White, L. Filipov, eds., Pergamon, Elmsford, N.Y. (1988).

  14. 14. S. Kulkarni, Astrophys. J. 306, L85 (1988).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  15. 15. M. Ruderman, J. Shaham, M. Tavani, D. Eichler, Astrophys. J. 343, 292 (1989).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  16. 16. F. Verbunt, in Timing Neutron Stars, Proc. NATO Adv. Study Inst., H. Ögelman, E. P. J. van den Heuvel, eds., Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands (1989).

  17. 17. S. R. Kulkarni, R. Narayan, R. W. Romani, Astrophys. J., in press (1990).

  18. 18. C. D. Bailyn, J. E. Grindlay, Astrophys. J., in press (1990).

  19. 19. D. C. Backer, R. W. Hellings, Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys 24, 537 (1986).

  20. 20. J. M. Weisberg, J. H. Taylor, Phys. Rev. Lett. 52, 1348 (1984). https://doi.org/PRLTAO
    J. H. Taylor, J. M. Weisberg, Astrophys. J. 345, 434 (1989). https://doi.org/ASJOAB

  21. 21. T. Damour, N. Deruelle, Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré 43, 107 (1985).

  22. 22. L. A. Rawley, J. H. Taylor, M. M. Davis, D. W. Allan, Science 238, 761 (1987).

  23. 23. R. W. Romani, Phys. Lett. B 215, 477 (1988).

  24. 24. S. Detweiler, Astrophys. J. 234, 1100 (1979).https://doi.org/ASJOAB

More about the Authors

Donald C. Backer. University of California, Berkeley.

Shrinivas R. Kulkarni. California Institute of Technology.

Related content
/
Article
Figuring out how to communicate with the public can be overwhelming. Here’s some advice for getting started.
/
Article
Amid growing investment in planetary-scale climate intervention strategies that alter sunlight reflection, global communities deserve inclusive and accountable oversight of research.
/
Article
Although motivated by the fundamental exploration of the weirdness of the quantum world, the prizewinning experiments have led to a promising branch of quantum computing technology.
/
Article
As conventional lithium-ion battery technology approaches its theoretical limits, researchers are studying alternative architectures with solid electrolytes.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1990_03.jpeg

Volume 43, Number 3

Get PT in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.