Editing Magnetar
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Little is known about the physical structure of a magnetar because they are difficult to study due to inherent dangers from [[Gamma Rays|Gamma Ray Burst]]s. Magnetars are around 20 kilometres (12 mi) in diameter but are more massive than [[Sol]]. The density of a magnetar is such that a thimbleful of its material would weigh over 100 million tons on Earth. Magnetars also rotate rapidly, with most magnetars completing a rotation once every 1-10 seconds. The active life of a magnetar is short. Their strong magnetic fields decay after about 10,000 years, after which activity and strong X-ray emission cease. Given the number of magnetars observable today, one estimate puts the number of inactive magnetars in the [[Milky Way Galaxy]] at 30 million or more. | Little is known about the physical structure of a magnetar because they are difficult to study due to inherent dangers from [[Gamma Rays|Gamma Ray Burst]]s. Magnetars are around 20 kilometres (12 mi) in diameter but are more massive than [[Sol]]. The density of a magnetar is such that a thimbleful of its material would weigh over 100 million tons on Earth. Magnetars also rotate rapidly, with most magnetars completing a rotation once every 1-10 seconds. The active life of a magnetar is short. Their strong magnetic fields decay after about 10,000 years, after which activity and strong X-ray emission cease. Given the number of magnetars observable today, one estimate puts the number of inactive magnetars in the [[Milky Way Galaxy]] at 30 million or more. | ||
Quakes triggered on the surface of the magnetar cause great volatility in the star and the magnetic field which encompasses it, often leading to extremely powerful Gamma Ray Flare emissions which have been recorded. | Quakes triggered on the surface of the magnetar cause great volatility in the star and the magnetic field which encompasses it, often leading to extremely powerful Gamma Ray Flare emissions which have been recorded. | ||
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==Magnetic Field== | ==Magnetic Field== | ||
Magnetars are primarily characterized by their extremely powerful magnetic field, which can often reach the order of ten [[Tesla|gigatesla]]s. These magnetic fields are hundreds of thousands of times stronger than any man-made magnet, and quadrillions of times more powerful than Earth's magnetic field. They are currently the most magnetic objects ever detected in the universe. | Magnetars are primarily characterized by their extremely powerful magnetic field, which can often reach the order of ten [[Tesla|gigatesla]]s. These magnetic fields are hundreds of thousands of times stronger than any man-made magnet, and quadrillions of times more powerful than Earth's magnetic field. They are currently the most magnetic objects ever detected in the universe. | ||
A magnetic field of 10 gigateslas is enormous relative to magnetic fields typically encountered on Earth. Earth has a [[Magnetosphere|Geomagnetic]] field of 30–60 microteslas, and a [[Neodymium|Neodymium-based]] rare earth magnet has a field of about 1 tesla, with a magnetic energy density of 4.0×105 J/m3. A 10 gigatesla field, by contrast, has an energy density of 4.0×1025 J/m3, with an E/c2 mass density >104 times that of lead. The magnetic field of a magnetar would be lethal even at a distance of 1000 km, tearing tissues due to the [[Diamagnetism]] of water | A magnetic field of 10 gigateslas is enormous relative to magnetic fields typically encountered on Earth. Earth has a [[Magnetosphere|Geomagnetic]] field of 30–60 microteslas, and a [[Neodymium|Neodymium-based]] rare earth magnet has a field of about 1 tesla, with a magnetic energy density of 4.0×105 J/m3. A 10 gigatesla field, by contrast, has an energy density of 4.0×1025 J/m3, with an E/c2 mass density >104 times that of lead. The magnetic field of a magnetar would be lethal even at a distance of 1000 km, tearing tissues due to the [[Diamagnetism]] of water. | ||
Remarkable things happen within a magnetic field of magnetar strength. | Remarkable things happen within a magnetic field of magnetar strength. | ||
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When, in a [[Supernova]], a star collapses to a neutron star, its magnetic field increases dramatically in strength. Halving a linear dimension increases the magnetic field fourfold. Duncan and Thompson calculated that the magnetic field of a neutron star, normally an already enormous 108 [[Tesla]]s could, through the [[Dynamo Theory|Dynamo Mechanism]], grow even larger, to more than 1011 teslas (or 1015 [[Gauss]]). The result is a magnetar. | When, in a [[Supernova]], a star collapses to a neutron star, its magnetic field increases dramatically in strength. Halving a linear dimension increases the magnetic field fourfold. Duncan and Thompson calculated that the magnetic field of a neutron star, normally an already enormous 108 [[Tesla]]s could, through the [[Dynamo Theory|Dynamo Mechanism]], grow even larger, to more than 1011 teslas (or 1015 [[Gauss]]). The result is a magnetar. | ||
The supernova might lose 10% of its mass in the explosion. In order for such large stars (10 to 30 solar masses) not to collapse directly into a [[Black Hole]], they have to shed a larger proportion of their mass— perhaps another 80%. It is estimated that about one in ten supernova explosions results in a magnetar rather than a more standard neutron star or [[Pulsar]]. | The supernova might lose 10% of its mass in the explosion. In order for such large stars (10 to 30 solar masses) not to collapse directly into a [[Black Hole]], they have to shed a larger proportion of their mass— perhaps another 80%. It is estimated that about one in ten supernova explosions results in a magnetar rather than a more standard neutron star or [[Pulsar]]. | ||
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[[Category: Stars and Stellar Phenomenon]][[ Category: Science]] | [[Category: Stars and Stellar Phenomenon]][[ Category: Science]] |