Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 3/27/2009

Question
Hi! I was wondering if you could please help me classify the following as being a characteristic of either a 1- NEUTRON STAR ONLY, or a 2-BLACK HOLE ONLY, or a characteristic of 3- BOTH NEUTRON STARS AND BLACK HOLES.

a) is detectable only if it is accreting gas from other objects
b) may emit rapid pulses of radio waves
c) may be surrounded by a supernova remnant
d) may be in a binary system that undergoes X-ray bursts
e) can have a mass of 10 solar masses
f) may be located in an X-ray binary

Thank you.

Answer
Hi,
a) is detectable only if it is accreting gas from other objects
  Balck hole only.

b) may emit rapid pulses of radio waves
  Neutron star only

c) may be surrounded by a supernova remnant
  Both neutron star or black hole.

d) may be in a binary system that undergoes X-ray bursts
  Both neutron star or black hole.


e) can have a mass of 10 solar masses
  Only a black hole.

f) may be located in an X-ray binary
  Both neutron star or black hole.

I am doubtful of some answers especially where i say both.
But I have tried to remain as logical as possible.

regards
Jayen