Estimate of the Gravitational Radiation from NP 0532

Abstract

THERE is considerable interest^1,2 in detecting gravitational radiation from pulsars, in particular NP 0532 (the Crab Nebula pulsar). In this article the gravitational radiation to be expected from NP 0532 is estimated on the basis of the oblique rotator model^3–6. This is a “lighthouse” model which postulates that pulsars are rotating neutron stars with a frozen-in magnetic field (see Fig. 1). The axis of the magnetic field is skewed with respect to the axis of rotation. Rotation carries the magnetic poles around in a circle, with the consequent emission of low frequency electromagnetic radiation. This radiation is then converted into other forms of energy, such as relativistic electrons and pulsed, higher frequency radiation^4–8.