David Manchester

Wesley Adams
Physics 1040
December 9, 2016
E-portfolio Journal

In a scientific journal released by D.A.H Buckley, P.J. Meintjes, S.B. Potter, T.R. Marsh,
and B.T Gansicke, titled Polarimetric Evidence of a White Dwarf Pulsar in the Binary
System AR Scorpii, The scientist present evidence of the first example of a white
dwarf pulsar. The variable star Ar sco was recently observed to have a pulse in
brightness every 1.97 minute from ultraviolet wave lengths into the radio
wavelength type. The system is made up of a cool low mass star conjoined in a tight
orbit with a very massive white dwarf. The linear polarization varies up to 40%. The
variation in the linear polarization varies drastically on the spin period and the beat
period of the white dwarf. The scientist claim that the white dwarf pulsar is similar
to that of a neutron star pulsar. The pulse luminosity of AR Sco is powered by the
spin down of the white dwarf which is highly magnetized. The scientist have found
that liner polarization is very close in similarity to that of the crab nebula. But the
wavelength is more complex due to the magnetic interactions and the synchronized
radiation of the white dwarf, this in turn powers the observed polarized and nonpolarized emissions. With this evidence at hand, brings to light the first observation
of a white dwarf pulsar. Before these observations white dwarf pulsars where just a
speculation.
The observation of a white dwarf pulsar is an exciting find, but it also has created
more questions about how this binary star system gave birth to a white dwarf
pulsar. There has not been any observational evidence of a high mass transfer

period between the two stars. There is still mass transfer happening at this point,
and the stars are more than likely in spin equilibrium. With no evidence of a high
mass transfer period the evolution of the white dwarf pulsar is still in question and
is open for debate. The high magnetic fields that are detected cause a big problem
in explaining the spinning up of the white dwarf because the material is normally
ejected rather that accreted. This has raised many questions as to how the system
is behaving. The more scientist discover about the universe the stranger and
fantastical it becomes. We are living in a very exciting, new, and wondrous time in
human history. We are well on our way to exploring space the final frontier. It is like
Pandoras Box, the more answers we get the more questions that arise.