Gamma-ray pulsars: a gold mine

Understand

The most energetic neutron stars, powered by their rotation, are capable of producing pulsed radiation from the radio up to gamma rays with nearly TeV energies.

• These pulsars are part of the universe of energetic and powerful particle accelerators, using their uniquely fast rotation and formidable magnetic fields to accelerate particles to ultra-relativistic speed.
• The extreme properties of these stars provide an excellent testing ground, beyond Earth experience, for nuclear, gravitational, and quantum-electrodynamical physics.
• A wealth of gamma-ray pulsars has recently been discovered with the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope.