+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server   + RSS Feeds Previous Animation Next Animation Millisecond Pulsar with Gravitational Waves A pulsar is generally believed to be a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits pulses of radiation (such as x-rays and radio waves) at known regular intervals. A millisecond pulsar is one with a rotational period in the range of 1-10 milliseconds. As the pulsar picks up speed through accretion, it distorts due to subtle changes in the crust. Such slight distortion is enough to produce gravitational waves. Material flowing onto the pulsar surface from its companion star tends to quicken the spin, but the loss of energy to gravitational waves tends to slow the spin. This competition between forces may reach an equilibrium, setting a natural speed limit for millisecond pulsars beyond which they cannot spin faster.    This animation shows a wide shot of a millisecond pulsar. Duration: 30.0 seconds Available formats:   512x288 (30 fps) MPEG-1   9 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) MPEG-2   64 MB   1280x720 (30 fps) QUICKTIME 27 MB   1280x720 (60 fps) MPEG-4   11 MB   1280x720   Frames   320x180     PNG           237 KB   160x80       PNG           61 KB   80x40         PNG           16 KB How to play our movies Animation Number: 10143 Animator: Dana Berry (Lead) Studio: NASA Completed: 2004-06-01 Writer: Mike McClare (HTSI) Goddard TV Tape: G2007-007HD Keywords: SVS >> HDTV SVS >> Neutron Star SVS >> Astrophysics SVS >> Gravitational Waves SVS >> Pulsar     Please give credit for this item to NASA Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: