How a Pulsar Gets Its Spin

brian0918 writes "Until now, the assumption has been that the rapid spin of a pulsar comes from the spin of the original star. The problem was that this only explained the fastest observed pulsars. Now, researchers at Oak Ridge have shown that the spin of a pulsar is determined by the shock wave created when the star's massive iron core collapses. From the article: 'That shock wave is inherently unstable, and eventually becomes cigar-shaped instead of spherical. The instability creates two rotating flows — one in one direction directly below the shock wave and another, inner flow, that travels in the opposite direction and spins up the core. The asymmetrical flows establish a 'sloshing' motion that accounts for the pulsars' observed spin velocities from once every 15 to 300 milliseconds.'"

a-z

[Anonymous Coward]

Mumble mumble... angular momentum...
Therefore, God exists.

wait a minute.

[User 956]

Now, researchers at Oak Ridge have shown that the spin of a pulsar is determined by the shock wave created when the star's massive iron core collapses. From the article: 'That shock wave is inherently unstable, and eventually becomes cigar-shaped instead of spherical. The instability creates two rotating flows -- one in one direction directly below the shock wave and another, inner flow, that travels in the opposite direction and spins up the core. The asymmetrical flows establish a 'sloshing' motion that accounts for the pulsars' observed spin velocities from once every 15 to 300 milliseconds.'

Hey now, it's not an asymmetrical flow that establishes an observed spin velocity. It's 'Intelligent Exploding'.

Alt. theory : Pulsar leans to the extreme right

[Anonymous Coward]

...and FOX "NEWS" does the spinning for it.

Pulsars get sloshed every 15 to 300 milliseconds?

[Picass0]

Sounds like that's where the party is at.

Re:Strange summary...

[Gospodin]

...even OB stars usually can only dream of.

Do pulsars dream of magnetic sheep?

Pulosi Got Her Spin From...

[BoRegardless]

her liberal upbrining in San Francisco politics.

From Kipling's "Just-so Stories"

[sehlat]

"How the Pulsar Got Its Spin"

In the galaxy, once upon a time, O my Best Beloved, there was a
star, and it gave off light and a stellar wind. It fused hydrogen
to helium, and developed turblence and spots, and slowly grew old,
turning to burning helium, then heavier and really truly heavier
elements, until it grew a Great Iron Core. ...

Similar Concept

[Rhesusmonkey]

Isn't that pretty much the same process by which Stella Got her Groove Back?

Re:Bad reporting

[Surt]

Bah, unstable shockwave giving a pulsar its spin! Ridiculous! Pulsars obviously spin through Intelligent Exploding!

The sad thing about this argument is that it's clear in the original Aramaic that they meant Imploding.

Re:Bad reporting

[Hal_Porter]

The sad thing about this argument is that it's clear in the original Aramaic that they meant Imploding.

God spoke the Queen's English, not some obscure semitic language.