Universe  ID: 10143

Millisecond Pulsar with Gravitational Waves

Released on July 3, 2007
A pulsar is generally believed to be a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits pulses of radiation (such as x-rays and radio waves) at known regular intervals. A millisecond pulsar is one with a rotational period in the range of 1-10 milliseconds. As the pulsar picks up speed through accretion, it distorts due to subtle changes in the crust. Such slight distortion is enough to produce gravitational waves. Material flowing onto the pulsar surface from its companion star tends to quicken the spin, but the loss of energy to gravitational waves tends to slow the spin. This competition between forces may reach an equilibrium, setting a natural speed limit for millisecond pulsars beyond which they cannot spin faster.
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This animation shows a wide shot of a millisecond pulsar.
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This animation shows a wide shot from further back of a milisecond pulsar.

Credits

Dana Berry (Skyworks Digital): Lead Animator
Michael McClare (HTSI): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10143

This item is part of this series:
Astrophysics Animations

Goddard TV Tape:
G2007-007HD

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Neutron Star
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Gravitational Waves
SVS >> LISA
SVS >> Pulsar
NASA Science >> Universe