Question

1. In an X-ray burster, the surface of a neutron star 10 km in radius is heated to a temperature of 3 × 107 K. (a) Determine the wavelength of maximum emission of the heated surface, assuming it radiates as a blackbody. In what part of the electromagnetic spectrum does this lie? (b) Find the luminosity of the heated neutron star. Give your answer in watts and in terms of the luminosity of the Sun. How does this compare with the peak luminosity of a nova (105 L⨀)? Of a supernova (109 L⨀)?

Answer 1

Temperature of neutron star , and radius

a)

From Wien's dispalcement law

In the electromagnetic spectrum ,this lies in the region of X rays.

b)

Luminosity of neutron star

Sun's luminosity

Luminosity of neutron star is

Peak luminosity of nova  

Luminosity of supernova