astronomy

PSR J2144−3933

PSR J2144−3933 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand PSR J2144−3933 rather than just read about it. In short: PSR J2144−3933 is a pulsar about 180 parsecs (587 light-years) from Earth. It is the coldest known neutron star with a surface temperature less than 42,000 Kelvin as measured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Key takeaways

PSR J2144−3933 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect PSR J2144−3933 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of PSR J2144−3933 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PSR J2144−3933 is a pulsar about 180 parsecs (587 light-years) from Earth. It is the coldest known neutron star with a surface temperature less than 42,000 Kelvin as measured by the Hubble Space Telescope. It was previously thought to have a period of 2.84 seconds but is now known to have a period of 8.5098 seconds, which is among the longest-known radio pulsars. PSR J2144−3933 is also notable for other reasons: its mean pulse profile is very narrow in comparison to the pulse period, with a half-intensity width of less than one degree of longitude. It also has the lowest spindown luminosity of any pulsar at about 3×1021 W. Writing in Nature, astrophysicists M. D. Young and coworkers consider this object and suggest that its existence throws current theories into doubt. They state:

Moreover, under the usual model assumptions, based on the neutron-star equations of state, this slowly rotating pulsar should not be emitting a radio beam. Therefore either the model assumptions are wrong, or current theories of radio emission must be revised The fact that PSR J2144−3933 is the coldest observed neutron star has been exploited to constrain the properties of dark matter.

References

External links http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?protocol=html&Ident=PSR+J2144-3933&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id ""Undead" Star Torpedoes Current Theories". Sciencedaily.com. 26 August 1999. Retrieved June 28, 2013. Kohler, Susanna (25 March 2011). "A Pulsar Alone: The first deep X-ray and optical observations of the closest isolated radio pulsar". Astrobites. Astrobites.org. Retrieved June 28, 2013.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with PSR J2144−3933

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what PSR J2144−3933 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to PSR J2144−3933 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about PSR J2144−3933 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of PSR J2144−3933

In research: PSR J2144−3933 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses PSR J2144−3933 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: PSR J2144−3933 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Compact object stubs, Grus (constellation), Rotation-powered pulsars, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for PSR J2144−3933 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study PSR J2144−3933 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what PSR J2144−3933 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain PSR J2144−3933 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is PSR J2144−3933 in simple terms?

Why does PSR J2144−3933 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study PSR J2144−3933?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on PSR J2144−3933.