Bell

Definition

Bell refers to Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the astrophysicist who discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967. Her discovery provided crucial evidence for the existence of neutron stars and revolutionized our understanding of stellar evolution.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Jocelyn Bell Burnell was a graduate student when she discovered the first pulsar.
2. The discovery of pulsars occurred while Bell was analyzing data from a radio telescope.
3. Her work led to a Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974, but controversially, it was awarded to her supervisor Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle instead of her.
4. Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation.
5. Bell's discovery confirmed theoretical predictions about neutron stars made by scientists like Baade and Zwicky in the 1930s.

Review Questions

• Who discovered the first radio pulsar?
• What is a pulsar and how is it related to neutron stars?
• Why was Jocelyn Bell Burnell's discovery significant in the field of astronomy?

Related terms

Pulsar: A highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation.

Neutron Star: A dense stellar remnant resulting from the supernova explosion of a massive star.

Radio Telescope: An instrument used to detect radio emissions from astronomical objects, crucial for discovering pulsars.