pulsar

American  

[puhl-sahr] / ˈpʌl sɑr /

noun

1. Astronomy. one of several hundred known celestial objects, generally believed to be rapidly rotating neutron stars, that emit pulses of radiation, especially radio waves, with a high degree of regularity.

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pulsar British  

/ ˈpʌlˌsɑː /

noun

1. any of a number of very small extremely dense objects first observed in 1967, which rotate very rapidly and emit very regular pulses of polarized radiation, esp radio waves. They are thought to be neutron stars formed following supernova explosions

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pulsar Scientific  

/ pŭl′sär′ /

1. A rapidly spinning neutron star that emits radiation, usually radio waves, in narrow beams focused by the star's powerful magnetic field and streaming outward from its magnetic poles. Because the pulsar's magnetic poles do not align with the poles of its rotational axis, the beams of radiation sweep around like the beacon of a lighthouse and are thus observed on Earth as short, regular pulses, with periods anywhere between 1 millisecond and 4 seconds.

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pulsar Cultural  

1. A rapidly rotating neutron star. The radiation from such a star appears to come in a series of regular pulses (one per revolution), which explains the name.

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Etymology

Origin of pulsar

1965–70; puls(ating st)ar, on the model of quasar

Compare meaning

How does pulsar compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• quasar vs. pulsar

Example Sentences

Initially believed to be interference, the signals turned out to be the first evidence of pulsars, rapidly spinning neutron stars that opened a new field of astrophysics.

From Science Daily

This project represents one of the most sensitive radio investigations ever carried out to search for pulsars in the turbulent central region of the Milky Way.

From Science Daily

The image may also help scientists better understand pulsars, the rapidly spinning remnants of massive stars.

From Science Daily

Their goal was to understand how the pulsar's radio signal appears to "twinkle" as it travels through clouds of gas on its way to Earth.

From Science Daily

By modeling subtle changes in the planet's brightness as it moves, researchers determined that intense gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar are stretching the planet into its lemon-like shape.

From Science Daily