What Are Magnetars And Quasars?

In this video we will talk about two of the most spectacular categories of astrophysical objects: what are magnetars and what are quasars.
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Magnetars are neutron stars with a very strong magnetic field: magnetar is in fact the contraction of “magnetic stars”. But how are neutron stars formed? And why do some of them become magnetars?
When a star exits the main sequence phase, that is, the stability phase during which the combustion of hydrogen which converts it into helium takes place in the stellar core, it passes through the red giant phase, during which its diameter increases a lot; the subsequent evolution depends on the mass of the star. In the case of the most massive stars, that is with a mass equal to at least three times the solar mass, a gravitational collapse of the outermost layers on the core occurs: this occurs because the condition of hydrostatic equilibrium between gravitational force and pressure of radiation generated by thermonuclear reactions, which instead characterized the main sequence phase, is broken. The fall of the outer stellar envelope on the core causes its temperature to rise even up to 100 million degrees in a relatively short time, thus triggering a aftermath of thermonuclear reactions in which the explosive burning of carbon and oxygen takes place: this causes a supernova explosio, in which the stellar envelope is violently ejected from the star and later forms a supernova remnant, such as the Crab nebula M 1 observable in the constellation of Taurus. What remains of the stellar core instead forms a neutron star, a very dense object: so dense that a region with a diameter of about 20 km (roughly the size of a city like New York) would enclose a mass greater than that of sun! (which, remember, alone contains more than 99% of the mass of the entire Solar System!). Or, using another comparison, the density inside a neutron star is such that a sugar cube would have a mass equal to that of all humanity. Imagine what would happen if a sugar cube containing such a gigantic mass fell on your foot ... At these densities, the pressure inside the star is such that the matter collapses even at the atomic level. The electrons, which under normal conditions form a "cloud" around the nuclei of atoms (formed by protons and neutrons), come to merge with them, forming neutrons. Hence the name 'neutron star'.

A magnetar is a particular type of neutron star that has an enormous magnetic field, from 1013 to 1015 gauss, billions of times more intense than that of the Earth, whose decay generates intense and abundant electromagnetic emissions. The emission of magnetars can be differentiated into three types: long emission in the X, which lasts for years; then there may be recursive flares that last for a few fractions of a second; and then there are giant flares, also lasting fractions of a second, but with much higher energies; in addition, gamma rays and (very rarely) radio frequencies are also emitted.
About 1 in 10 supernovae are believed to degenerate into a magnetar rather than a more common neutron star or pulsar: it happens when the star already has a fast spin and strong magnetism. It is believed that the magnetic field of a magnetar is the result of a convective motion with a dynamo effect of hot material in the nucleus of the neutron star that occurs in the first 10 s or so of the star's life; if the star itself initially rotates at the same speed as the convection period, about 10 ms, the convection currents are able to operate globally on the star and transfer a significant amount of their kinetic energy into the strength of their magnetic field. In less rapidly spinning neutron stars, convective cells form only in certain regions of the star.

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Credits: Ron Miller
Credits: Nasa/Shutterstock/Storyblocks/Elon Musk/SpaceX/ESA/ESO
Credits: Flickr

Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:19 How Neutron Stars are Formed
02:42 What are Magnetars
04:53 What are Quasars
05:47 Characteristics of Quasars
07:54 Quasars
08:53 Intrinsic Brightness
09:46 Quasars with more Powerful Instruments
11:09 The Most Distant Quasar

#insanecuriosity #magnetars #quasars

[InsaneCuriosity]

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[KlimovArtem]

I wish they labeled somehow the pictures, so we would know which are real photos of the space and which are artistic fantasies (sometimes it’s very hard to tell).

[MG-erdm]

While uncertain re Magnetars & Quasars l'm keen to listen and learn more. Thanks. 😃

[ChrisAnonymous]

I like how they’re one step away from a black hole

[latonyagreen-warner]

Great video. Great job of breaking it down.

[LaibaStarXX]

Love the names they give these objects!😆

[BBStub]

You really don't have what to upload anymore !! Heyy Mrs. - Find a more 'advance' subject. Make a video about How big the visible universe is, with video going from planet earth trough outside at edges. - Please dear.

[swarpatel]

But, Can the magnetar stick my grocery list to the refrigerator.

[karkovice]

If a sugar cube weighing as much as all of humanity were to fall on my foot, I would cry out "I never knew a sugar cube could hurt so much!" :)