Evidence for $10^{12}$ ‐gauss field on neutron star

JUN 01, 1977

A sharp spike in the x‐ray energy spectrum from Hercules X‐1 may have provided the first direct measurement of the magnetic flux on the surface of a neutron star. The German discoverers of this peak have interpreted it as cyclotron emission from electrons circulating around magnetic field lines in the polar region of the star. The associated magnetic field strength would be about ${5×10}^{12}$ gauss, in good agreement with theoretical predictions that the field on the surface of neutron stars should range from $10^{10}$ to $10^{13}$ gauss.

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