Pulsar Current Sheets - Positron Flows
- Written by:
- Tom Bridgman and
- Francis Reddy
- Scientific consulting by:
- Gabriele Brambilla
- Produced by:
- Scott Wiessinger
- View full credits
Movies
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_tour.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [82.8 MB]
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_tour.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [7.9 MB]
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_tour_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [198.5 MB]
Images
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_tour_inertial.HD1080i.01001_print.jpg (1024x576) [114.9 KB]
Frames
- frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/tour-glyph/ (1920x1080) [92.0 KB]
- frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/tour-glyph/ (3840x2160) [92.0 KB]
This movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy positrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use.
A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revvs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields.
Various physical processes ensure that most of the particles around a pulsar are either electrons or their antimatter counterparts, positrons. To trace the behavior and energies of these particles, the researchers used a comparatively new type of pulsar model called a “particle in cell” (PIC) simulation.
The PIC technique lets scientists explore the pulsar from first principles, starting with a spinning, magnetized meutron star. The computer code injects electrons and positrons at the pulsar's surface and tracks how they interact with the electric and magnetic fields. It's computationally intensive because the particle motions affect the fields and the fields affect the particles, and everything is moving near the speed of light.
This visualization shows the high-speed positrons moviing around the pulsar. Darker red trails represent slow positrons. White trails indicate high speed (relativisitic) particles. The positrons undergo acceleration to relativistic speeds near the edge of the current sheet.
Movies
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_corot.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [55.1 MB]
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_corot.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [6.2 MB]
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_corot_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [166.3 MB]
Images
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_corot_inertial.HD1080i.01001_print.jpg (1024x576) [70.0 KB]
Frames
- frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/corotating-glyph/ (1920x1080) [92.0 KB]
- frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/corotating-glyph/ (3840x2160) [92.0 KB]
This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy positrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use.
Movies
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_polar.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [78.8 MB]
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_polar.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [9.1 MB]
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_polar_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [229.9 MB]
Images
- PulsarParticles_grid_positrons_polar_inertial.HD1080i.01001_print.jpg (1024x576) [136.8 KB]
Frames
- frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/polar-glyph/ (1920x1080) [92.0 KB]
- frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/polar-glyph/ (3840x2160) [92.0 KB]
This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy positrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use.
Movies
- PulsarParticles_positrons_tour_inertial.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [6.5 MB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_tour_inertial.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [74.7 MB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_tour_inertial_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [175.9 MB]
Images
- PulsarParticles_positrons_tour_inertial.HD1080i.01000_print.jpg (1024x576) [105.2 KB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_tour_inertial.HD1080i.01000_thm.png (80x40) [5.1 KB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_tour_inertial.HD1080i.01000_searchweb.png (320x180) [55.1 KB]
Frames
- frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/tour-noglyph/ (1920x1080) [80.0 KB]
- frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/tour-noglyph/ (3840x2160) [80.0 KB]
This movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy positrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing.
Movies
- PulsarParticles_positrons_corot_inertial.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [4.8 MB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_corot_inertial.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [62.9 MB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_corot_inertial_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [152.6 MB]
Images
- PulsarParticles_positrons_corot_inertial.HD1080i.01000_print.jpg (1024x576) [57.0 KB]
Frames
- frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/corotating-noglyph/ (1920x1080) [80.0 KB]
- frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/corotating-noglyph/ (3840x2160) [80.0 KB]
This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy positrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing.
Movies
- PulsarParticles_positrons_polar_inertial.HD1080i_p30.mp4 (1920x1080) [89.5 MB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_polar_inertial.HD1080i_p30.webm (1920x1080) [7.4 MB]
- PulsarParticles_positrons_polar_inertial_2160p30.mp4 (3840x2160) [216.8 MB]
Images
- PulsarParticles_positrons_polar_inertial.HD1080i.01000_print.jpg (1024x576) [124.3 KB]
Frames
- frames/1920x1080_16x9_30p/polar-noglyph/ (1920x1080) [80.0 KB]
- frames/3840x2160_16x9_30p/polar-noglyph/ (3840x2160) [80.0 KB]
This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy positrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing.

Color bar for positrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Data visualizer
- Tom Bridgman (GST) [Lead]
Writer
- Francis Reddy (University of Maryland College Park) [Lead]
Scientists
- Gabriele Brambilla (University of Milan) [Lead]
- Alice Harding (NASA/GSFC)
Producer
- Scott Wiessinger (KBRwyle) [Lead]
Series
This visualization can be found in the following series:Datasets used in this visualization
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.
Related pages
Pulsars and their Magnetic Field - Vacuum solution
Oct. 10th, 2018
Read moreThis movie presents a basic tour around the vacuum magnetic field solution. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the vacuum magnetic field. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a view of the vacuum magnetic field solution from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a basic tour around the vacuum magnetic field solution. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the vacuum magnetic field. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a view of the vacuum magnetic field solution from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. Scientists studying what amounts to a computer-simulated “pulsar in a box” are gaining a more detailed understanding of the complex, high-energy environment around spinning neutron stars, also called pulsars. The model traces the paths of charged particles in magnetic and electric fields near the neutron star, revealing behaviors that may help explain how pulsars emit gamma-ray and radio pulses with ultraprecise timing.A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revvs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields.This visualization illustrates what the pulsar magnetic field would look like without the influence of the charged particles around it. The charged particles create currents which alter the magnetic field. Related pages
Pulsar Current Sheets - Magnetic Field Solution
Oct. 10th, 2018
Read moreThis movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. Scientists studying what amounts to a computer-simulated “pulsar in a box” are gaining a more detailed understanding of the complex, high-energy environment around spinning neutron stars, also called pulsars. The model traces the paths of charged particles in magnetic and electric fields near the neutron star, revealing behaviors that may help explain how pulsars emit gamma-ray and radio pulses with ultraprecise timing.A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revvs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields.This visualization illustrates what the pulsar magnetic field would look like INCLUDING the influence of the charged particles around it (those particles included in other visualizations in this series). The charged particles create currents which alter the magnetic field. Related pages
Pulsar Current Sheets - Bulk Particle Trajectories
Oct. 10th, 2018
Read moreThis movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles, held fixed by co-rotating with the pulsar. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including including motion of the bulk particles. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. Color bar for electrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor. Color bar for positrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor. Scientists studying what amounts to a computer-simulated “pulsar in a box” are gaining a more detailed understanding of the complex, high-energy environment around spinning neutron stars, also called pulsars. The model traces the paths of charged particles in magnetic and electric fields near the neutron star, revealing behaviors that may help explain how pulsars emit gamma-ray and radio pulses with ultraprecise timing.A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revvs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields.Various physical processes ensure that most of the particles around a pulsar are either electrons or their antimatter counterparts, positrons. To trace the behavior and energies of these particles, the researchers used a comparatively new type of pulsar model called a “particle in cell” (PIC) simulation.The PIC technique lets scientists explore the pulsar from first principles, starting with a spinning, magnetized meutron star. The computer code injects electrons and positrons at the pulsar's surface and tracks how they interact with the electric and magnetic fields. It's computationally intensive because the particle motions affect the fields and the fields affect the particles, and everything is moving near the speed of light.This visualization shows the bulk particle flows, made up of low-energy electrons and positrons which comprise the majority of the particles. Darker blue trails represent slow electrons, darker red trails represent slow positrons. White trails indicate high speed (relativisitic) particles. Related pages
Pulsar Current Sheets - Electron flows
Oct. 10th, 2018
Read moreThis movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. Color bar for electrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor. Scientists studying what amounts to a computer-simulated “pulsar in a box” are gaining a more detailed understanding of the complex, high-energy environment around spinning neutron stars, also called pulsars. The model traces the paths of charged particles in magnetic and electric fields near the neutron star, revealing behaviors that may help explain how pulsars emit gamma-ray and radio pulses with ultraprecise timing.A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revvs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields.Various physical processes ensure that most of the particles around a pulsar are either electrons or their antimatter counterparts, positrons. To trace the behavior and energies of these particles, the researchers used a comparatively new type of pulsar model called a “particle in cell” (PIC) simulation.The PIC technique lets scientists explore the pulsar from first principles, starting with a spinning, magnetized meutron star. The computer code injects electrons and positrons at the pulsar's surface and tracks how they interact with the electric and magnetic fields. It's computationally intensive because the particle motions affect the fields and the fields affect the particles, and everything is moving near the speed of light.This visualization shows the high-speed electrons moviing around the pulsar. Darker blue trails represent slow electrons. White trails indicate high speed (relativisitic) particles. There are more high-speed electrons outside the current sheet. Related pages
Pulsar Current Sheets - Electron & Positron Flows
Oct. 10th, 2018
Read moreThis movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons and positrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the high-energy electrons and positrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. Color bar for electrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor. Color bar for positrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor. Scientists studying what amounts to a computer-simulated “pulsar in a box” are gaining a more detailed understanding of the complex, high-energy environment around spinning neutron stars, also called pulsars. The model traces the paths of charged particles in magnetic and electric fields near the neutron star, revealing behaviors that may help explain how pulsars emit gamma-ray and radio pulses with ultraprecise timing.A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revvs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields.Various physical processes ensure that most of the particles around a pulsar are either electrons or their antimatter counterparts, positrons. To trace the behavior and energies of these particles, the researchers used a comparatively new type of pulsar model called a “particle in cell” (PIC) simulation.The PIC technique lets scientists explore the pulsar from first principles, starting with a spinning, magnetized meutron star. The computer code injects electrons and positrons at the pulsar's surface and tracks how they interact with the electric and magnetic fields. It's computationally intensive because the particle motions affect the fields and the fields affect the particles, and everything is moving near the speed of light.This visualization shows the high-speed electrons and positrons moviing around the pulsar. Darker blue trails represent slow electrons, darker red trails represent slow positrons. White trails indicate high speed (relativisitic) particles. Electrons and positrons can be accelerated near the edge of the current sheet. Related pages
Pulsar Current Sheets - All Particle Flows
Oct. 10th, 2018
Read moreThis movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the the bulk particles and high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles and the high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles and high-energy electrons and positrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with some simple reference objects for more general use. This movie presents a basic tour around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles and high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a tour from the inertial frame and spinning up to the co-rotating frame around the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles and high-energy electrons and positrons. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. This movie presents a view of the simulation magnetic field including motion of the bulk particles and high-energy electrons and positrons, from above the rotation axis. This version is generated with no background objects and an alpha channel for custom compositing. Color bar for electrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor. Color bar for positrons representing the particle speed as the relativisitic Lorentz factor. Scientists studying what amounts to a computer-simulated “pulsar in a box” are gaining a more detailed understanding of the complex, high-energy environment around spinning neutron stars, also called pulsars. The model traces the paths of charged particles in magnetic and electric fields near the neutron star, revealing behaviors that may help explain how pulsars emit gamma-ray and radio pulses with ultraprecise timing.A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revvs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields.Various physical processes ensure that most of the particles around a pulsar are either electrons or their antimatter counterparts, positrons. To trace the behavior and energies of these particles, the researchers used a comparatively new type of pulsar model called a “particle in cell” (PIC) simulation.The PIC technique lets scientists explore the pulsar from first principles, starting with a spinning, magnetized meutron star. The computer code injects electrons and positrons at the pulsar's surface and tracks how they interact with the electric and magnetic fields. It's computationally intensive because the particle motions affect the fields and the fields affect the particles, and everything is moving near the speed of light.This visualization shows the all the simulation particles, the low speed (bulk) particle flows, and the high energy electrons and positrons, moviing around the pulsar. Darker blue trails represent slow electrons, darker red trails represent slow positrons. White trails indicate high speed (relativisitic) particles. Related pages
Simulations Create New Insights Into Pulsars
Oct. 10th, 2018
Read moreExplore a new “pulsar in a box” computer simulation that tracks the fate of electrons (blue) and their antimatter kin, positrons (red), as they interact with powerful magnetic and electric fields around a neutron star. Lighter colors indicate higher particle energies. Each particle seen in this visualization actually represents trillions of electrons or positrons. Better knowledge of the particle environment around neutron stars will help astronomers understand how they produce precisely timed radio and gamma-ray pulses.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: "Reaching for the Horizon" and "Leaving Earth" from Killer TracksWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. Electrons (blue) and positrons (red) from a computer-simulated pulsar. These particles become accelerated to extreme energies in a pulsar's powerful magnetic and electric fields; lighter tracks show particles with higher energies. Each particle seen here actually represents trillions of electrons or positrons. Better knowledge of the particle environment around neutron stars will help astronomers understand how they behave like cosmic lighthouses, producing precisely timed radio and gamma-ray pulses.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Still image of all particles.Electrons (blue) and positrons (red) from a computer-simulated pulsar. These particles become accelerated to extreme energies in a pulsar's powerful magnetic and electric fields; lighter tracks show particles with higher energies. Each particle seen here actually represents trillions of electrons or positrons. Better knowledge of the particle environment around neutron stars will help astronomers understand how they behave like cosmic lighthouses, producing precisely timed radio and gamma-ray pulses.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Medium-energy electrons flowing with a pulsar's spinning magnetic field scatter wildly when they near the speed of light. The particles move with the magnetic field, which sweeps back and extends outward as the pulsar spins. Their rotational speed rises with increasing distance, but this can only go on so long because matter can’t travel at the speed of light. The distance where the plasma’s rotational velocity would reach light speed marks the location of a feature astronomers call the light cylinder, a region of abrupt change. As the electrons approach it, they suddenly slow down and many scatter wildly, even back to the pulsar. Others can slip past the light cylinder and out into space. Lighter tracks show particles with higher energies. Each particle seen here actually represents trillions of electrons. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Still image of electron-only simulation with label.Medium-energy electrons flowing with a pulsar's spinning magnetic field scatter wildly when they near the speed of light. The particles move with the magnetic field, which sweeps back and extends outward as the pulsar spins. Their rotational speed rises with increasing distance, but this can only go on so long because matter can’t travel at the speed of light. The distance where the plasma’s rotational velocity would reach light speed marks the location of a feature astronomers call the light cylinder, a region of abrupt change. As the electrons approach it, they suddenly slow down and many scatter wildly, even back to the pulsar. Others can slip past the light cylinder and out into space.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Similar to the still above, but showing the scattering electrons from a different angle. No label.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Still image, positrons only, with label.The pulsar simulation shows that positrons mostly flow out from the surface at lower latitudes. They form a relatively thin structure called the current sheet. Lighter trails indicate greater particle energies. The highest-energy positrons in the simulation represent less than 0.1 percent of the total, but are capable of producing gamma rays similar to those observed, confirming the results of earlier studies. Each particle seen in this visualization actually represents trillions of positrons. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Scientists studying what amounts to a computer-simulated “pulsar in a box” are gaining a more detailed understanding of the complex, high-energy environment around spinning neutron stars, also called pulsars. The model traces the paths of charged particles in magnetic and electric fields near the neutron star, revealing behaviors that may help explain how pulsars emit gamma-ray and radio pulses with ultraprecise timing. A pulsar is the crushed core of a massive star that exploded as a supernova. The core is so compressed that more mass than the Sun's squeezes into a ball no wider than Manhattan Island in New York City. This process also revs up its rotation and strengthens its magnetic and electric fields. Various physical processes ensure that most of the particles around a pulsar are either electrons or their antimatter counterparts, positrons. To trace the behavior and energies of these particles, the researchers used a comparatively new type of pulsar model called a “particle in cell” (PIC) simulation. The PIC technique lets scientists explore the pulsar from first principles, starting with a spinning, magnetized neutron star. The computer code injects electrons and positrons at the pulsar's surface and tracks how they interact with the electric and magnetic fields. It's computationally intensive because the particle motions affect the fields and the fields affect the particles, and everything is moving near the speed of light.The simulation shows that most of the electrons tend to race outward from the magnetic poles. Some medium-energy electrons scatter wildly, even heading back to the pulsar. The positrons, on the other hand, mostly flow out at lower latitudes, forming a relatively thin structure called the current sheet. In fact, the highest-energy positrons here — less than 0.1 percent of the total — are capable of producing gamma rays similar to those detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which has discovered 216 gamma-ray pulsars. The simulation ran on the Discover supercomputer at NASA’s Center for Climate Simulation at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the Pleiades supercomputer at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California. The model actually tracks “macroparticles,” each of which represents many trillions of electrons or positrons. For More InformationSee [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/pulsar-in-a-box-reveals-surprising-picture-of-a-neutron-star-s-surroundings](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/pulsar-in-a-box-reveals-surprising-picture-of-a-neutron-star-s-surroundings) Related pages