The kind of neutron star that emits beams of high-energy radiation sweeping in and out of our line of sight due to a misalignment of the star's rotation and magnetic axes is called what?

• A. Magnetar
• B. Pulsar
• C. White dwarf
• D. Neutron star

Answer: (B)

Beams of high-energy radiation sweeping in and out because the rotation and magnetic axes are misaligned describe a pulsar. In a pulsar, charged particles emit along the magnetic poles, and those beams sweep around as the star spins. If one of these beams crosses Earth, we detect a pulse each time the star rotates, producing a highly regular signal. This lighthouse-like behavior is the defining feature of pulsars.

A magnetar is a neutron star with an exceptionally strong magnetic field and bursts of high-energy radiation tied to magnetic field decay, not the steady beam sweeping described. A white dwarf is a different, less dense type of compact star and doesn’t generally exhibit this rotating beam phenomenon. A neutron star is the broader category; the description specifically points to the rotating beam mechanism, which is what characterizes a pulsar.