Neutron Stars II: Gravity v Magnetism

[GeeKay]

Neutron stars have been described as the most powerful bar magnets in the known universe. This being so, is it possible for the magnetic fields of such compact objects to take precedence even over their gravity fields? An example: would a small object captured by a given neutron star wind up impacting upon one or other of its magnetic poles, rather than gravity pulling it down to impact anywhere else on the star's surface/photosphere? Many thanks.

 

 

 

 

[swansont]

It's not one vs the other, since magnetism can give rise to an attractive force, and since these are dipoles, all you have to do is flip the orientation of the smaller object if you initially had repulsion. So precedence really isn't a worry.

 

Would you have preferential impact at the magnetic poles? Sure. I see no reason why not, since the attraction of a magnetic particle would be stronger there, and also for charged particles, they will tend to be funneled in that direction. That's what happens on earth with the solar wind.

[GeeKay]

Thank you. To clarify things then: any non-magnetically charged object gravitationally drawn to an ultra-compact body like a neutron star can, depending on its trajectory, impact upon any part of its surface, not just at its magnetic poles.

[swansont]

Thank you. To clarify things then: any non-magnetically charged object gravitationally drawn to an ultra-compact body like a neutron star can, depending on its trajectory, impact upon any part of its surface, not just at its magnetic poles.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "non-magnetically charged", but the answer is probably yes.

[GeeKay]

My apologies. By a "non-magnetically charged object" I meant non-ferrous minerals and metals, like copper, nickel, cobalt, etc.

[swansont]

My apologies. By a "non-magnetically charged object" I meant non-ferrous minerals and metals, like copper, nickel, cobalt, etc.

Non-ferrous materials still exhibit magnetism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramagnetism