Comments on: After the Storm: Measuring the Structure and Temperature of a Quiescent Neutron Star http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 8 Nov 2009 08:15:54 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: bellinda birdleg http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-2/#comment-51281 bellinda birdleg Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:58:50 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-51281 Ian I love you. you have been a bit out of the business. But these scary things like Neutrons and gravitons and X-rays mae me shiver ....again. Oooohh do it again. dont listen to those scientists, you are my hero. So cool and so scary. And yes better a good storyteller than a dry scientist. Keep up those speculations and sensations. boooooomm Baaaang Ian I love you.

you have been a bit out of the business.
But these scary things like Neutrons and gravitons and X-rays mae me shiver ….again.

Oooohh do it again.
dont listen to those scientists, you are my hero.
So cool and so scary.

And yes better a good storyteller than a dry scientist.

Keep up those speculations and sensations.

boooooomm Baaaang

]]> By: Manu http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-2/#comment-50331 Manu Sat, 17 Jan 2009 20:14:36 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-50331 Since there's no answer about the temperature, and I'm curious too, I made a little search and calculation. X-rays wavelengths range between 10 E-11 and 10 E-8 m: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EM_spectrum.svg Thermal radiation wavelength and temperature of emitting body are linked through 'Wien's displacement law': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wien's_Law This would give a very rough estimate somewhere between 100,000 and 100,000,000 K - that is, if I understand what I read correctly! ;-) Not exactly 'cool'! Since there's no answer about the temperature, and I'm curious too, I made a little search and calculation.

X-rays wavelengths range between 10 E-11 and 10 E-8 m:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EM_spectrum.svg

Thermal radiation wavelength and temperature of emitting body are linked through 'Wien's displacement law':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wien's_Law

This would give a very rough estimate somewhere between 100,000 and 100,000,000 K – that is, if I understand what I read correctly! ;-)

Not exactly 'cool'!

]]> By: Astrofiend http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-2/#comment-49997 Astrofiend Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:58:45 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49997 Hiker 9965 Says: January 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pm Oh God. Not another one. Why don't you all go and start an 'Electric Universe Today' website so that everyone can safely not give a sh!t about it and you guys can wax lyrical about how oppressed by the mainstream you always are. I know there wouldn't be any actual research or results to publish, but that shouldn't get in the way of a good half-baked theory! Hiker 9965 Says:
January 12th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

Oh God. Not another one. Why don't you all go and start an 'Electric Universe Today' website so that everyone can safely not give a sh!t about it and you guys can wax lyrical about how oppressed by the mainstream you always are. I know there wouldn't be any actual research or results to publish, but that shouldn't get in the way of a good half-baked theory!

]]> By: Paul Eaton-Jones http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49787 Paul Eaton-Jones Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:50:15 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49787 Yael & Dave: Re Trolls. I made the mistake of engaging with them on the No Geo-Mag Reversal thread and can't get out. Yael & Dave: Re Trolls. I made the mistake of engaging with them on the No Geo-Mag Reversal thread and can't get out.

]]> By: Hiker 9965 http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49649 Hiker 9965 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:52:47 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49649 OIlls is right. No such thing as a neutron star. One of these days everyone will subscribe to the EU theory. Until then, we can continue to laugh at the fact that cosmologists continue to do research on non-existent objects. OIlls is right. No such thing as a neutron star.

One of these days everyone will subscribe to the EU theory. Until then, we can continue to laugh at the fact that cosmologists continue to do research on non-existent objects.

]]> By: Dirk Muehlner http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49645 Dirk Muehlner Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:02:46 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49645 How can you write an article about measuring the temperature of a neutron star and not mention what the measured temperature was??!!! How can you write an article about measuring the temperature of a neutron star and not mention what the measured temperature was??!!!

]]> By: Kevin F. http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49596 Kevin F. Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:40:10 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49596 What does this mean for the poor <a>Cheela</a>? What does this mean for the poor Cheela?

]]> By: Olaf http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49537 Olaf Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:27:45 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49537 Dave, shame on you, lauging at the expense of someone that has no clue about science or physics? LOL Dave, shame on you, lauging at the expense of someone that has no clue about science or physics? LOL

]]> By: Dave http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49524 Dave Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:18:07 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49524 Well oils, how bout you go counting all the logical fallacies and fundamentalist views on your blog eh? no? not such a good idea huh? thort so... Well oils, how bout you go counting all the logical fallacies and fundamentalist views on your blog eh? no? not such a good idea huh? thort so…

]]> By: Frank Glover http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49505 Frank Glover Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:38:39 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49505 "Would it, once released from the crushing gravity expand to normal matter or would it stay degenerate matter?" Yes, it would expand, and rather violently... Some speculate that hydrogen, compressed to a metallic state would remain so, after the pressure's removed (though still with the potential to energetically revert), but the stuff of neutron stars is an exponentially different range of density and physics, with nothing but pressure from the entire star's gravity holding it in that state. However, you might well find a thin crust of not-as-dense 'degenerate matter' (the stuff of white dwarf stars) on the surface of neutron stars. "Would it, once released from the crushing gravity expand to normal matter or would it stay degenerate matter?"

Yes, it would expand, and rather violently…

Some speculate that hydrogen, compressed to a metallic state would remain so, after the pressure's removed (though still with the potential to energetically revert), but the stuff of neutron stars is an exponentially different range of density and physics, with nothing but pressure from the entire star's gravity holding it in that state.

However, you might well find a thin crust of not-as-dense 'degenerate matter' (the stuff of white dwarf stars) on the surface of neutron stars.

]]> By: neoguru http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49496 neoguru Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:45:37 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49496 The half life of an isolated neutron is 10.5 minutes when it decomposes to become a proton and an electron - a VERY hot hydrogen atom. Your teaspoon of neutrons would "burn off" for about 6 half lives. It would flare violently for about an hour, blasting radioactive hydrogen in all directions. It'd make a great bomb! Maybe take out a continent. The half life of an isolated neutron is 10.5 minutes when it decomposes to become a proton and an electron – a VERY hot hydrogen atom. Your teaspoon of neutrons would "burn off" for about 6 half lives. It would flare violently for about an hour, blasting radioactive hydrogen in all directions. It'd make a great bomb! Maybe take out a continent.

]]> By: Matthias http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49490 Matthias Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:55:40 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49490 I don't know whether the Neutron matter would stay together (i.e., whether it is a solid at normal conditions), but the neutrons would decay with a half-life of ~15min anyway. I don't know whether the Neutron matter would stay together (i.e., whether it is a solid at normal conditions), but the neutrons would decay with a half-life of ~15min anyway.

]]> By: bob http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49489 bob Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:53:09 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49489 ok, you got the 1.35-2.1 solar masses, 24km d covered. what about the temperature? let me guess. it's between 0 and +infinity K. ok, you got the 1.35-2.1 solar masses, 24km d covered. what about the temperature?
let me guess. it's between 0 and +infinity K.

]]> By: Olaf http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49473 Olaf Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:14:36 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49473 Well the spoon of neutron star material will be the same as what we have here without the rest of the mass that generates that massive amount of gravity. It is the combined mass of all the neutron star that makes it a neutron star. The atomes are so packed tight that their neutrons are packed on each other without any space in between. But without the other mass of the star, it just is normal matter. Well the spoon of neutron star material will be the same as what we have here without the rest of the mass that generates that massive amount of gravity.

It is the combined mass of all the neutron star that makes it a neutron star. The atomes are so packed tight that their neutrons are packed on each other without any space in between.

But without the other mass of the star, it just is normal matter.

]]> By: Sili http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49465 Sili Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:22:04 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49465 I, too, would like to know how hot it is then. (In Kelvin, not Fahrenheit, preferably.) So might this go on to tell us something about 'quark stars'? I, too, would like to know how hot it is then. (In Kelvin, not Fahrenheit, preferably.)

So might this go on to tell us something about 'quark stars'?

]]> By: Wienne http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49459 Wienne Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:50:50 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49459 Something I always wondered, the science noob I am: Suppose you could get a spoonfull of neutron star matter, what would happen to it? Would it, once released from the crushing gravity expand to normal matter or would it stay degenerate matter? Something I always wondered, the science noob I am: Suppose you could get a spoonfull of neutron star matter, what would happen to it?

Would it, once released from the crushing gravity expand to normal matter or would it stay degenerate matter?

]]> By: Yael Dragwyla http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49434 Yael Dragwyla Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:09:18 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49434 Dave, with reference to OillsMastery: We really ought not to feed the trolls. It just encourages them. Oills ramblings are their own worst advertisement -- no put-downs of them needed, because they do all the work themselves. Dave, with reference to OillsMastery: We really ought not to feed the trolls. It just encourages them. Oills ramblings are their own worst advertisement — no put-downs of them needed, because they do all the work themselves.

]]> By: OilIsMastery http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49427 OilIsMastery Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:48:09 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49427 Dave, spoken with the language of a true fundamentalist. No less than 4 ad hominems and zero logical content. Well done. Dave, spoken with the language of a true fundamentalist. No less than 4 ad hominems and zero logical content. Well done.

]]> By: Ian O'Neill http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49421 Ian O'Neill Sun, 11 Jan 2009 05:32:21 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49421 Hey Ethan, thanks for that :-) Got the brackets in the wrong place of the sentence. Corrected now! Cheers, Ian :D Hey Ethan, thanks for that :-) Got the brackets in the wrong place of the sentence. Corrected now!

Cheers, Ian :D

]]> By: Dave http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49420 Dave Sun, 11 Jan 2009 05:19:19 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49420 According to crank theory ( and a most disturbing look at oils's blog ), OillsMastery belongs in the same category as internet trolls, crackpots, science deniers and reality-unbelievers. According to crank theory ( and a most disturbing look at oils's blog ), OillsMastery belongs in the same category as internet trolls, crackpots, science deniers and reality-unbelievers.

]]> By: OilIsMastery http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49412 OilIsMastery Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:14:44 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49412 "According to electric star theory, neutron stars belong in the same category with invisible pink unicorns." -- Stephen Smith, physicist, November 2008 "According to electric star theory, neutron stars belong in the same category with invisible pink unicorns." — Stephen Smith, physicist, November 2008

]]> By: Ethan Siegel http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49409 Ethan Siegel Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:47:00 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49409 Just FYI, the mass you quoted (the range I know is a little bigger, from about 1 solar mass to about 3 solar masses) is the mass of the neutron star <i>after</i> the supernova explosion, not the mass of the star before it explodes. A star really needs about, as far as I know, about 8 solar masses to go supernova and form a neutron star. But neutron stars are a lot less massive than the stars that create them! Just FYI, the mass you quoted (the range I know is a little bigger, from about 1 solar mass to about 3 solar masses) is the mass of the neutron star after the supernova explosion, not the mass of the star before it explodes.

A star really needs about, as far as I know, about 8 solar masses to go supernova and form a neutron star. But neutron stars are a lot less massive than the stars that create them!

]]> By: Chris http://www.universetoday.com/2009/01/10/after-the-storm-measuring-the-structure-and-temperature-of-a-quiescent-neutron-star/comment-page-1/#comment-49407 Chris Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:25:48 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=23466#comment-49407 So now I'm just curious, what is the typical temperature of the core of a neutron star 1.5 years after a flare up (after thermal equilibrium has been reached)? So now I'm just curious, what is the typical temperature of the core of a neutron star 1.5 years after a flare up (after thermal equilibrium has been reached)?

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