Editing X-ray pulsar (section)

== Spin behaviors ==
[[Radio pulsar]]s (rotation-powered pulsars) and X-ray pulsars exhibit very different spin behaviors and have different mechanisms producing their characteristic pulses although it is accepted that both kinds of pulsar are manifestations of a rotating [[magnetism|magnetized]] [[neutron star]]. The rotation cycle of the neutron star in both cases is identified with the pulse period.

The major differences are that radio pulsars have periods on the order of milliseconds to seconds, and all radio pulsars are losing angular momentum and slowing down. In contrast, the X-ray pulsars exhibit a variety of spin behaviors. Some X-ray pulsars are observed to be continuously spinning faster and faster or slower and slower (with occasional reversals in these trends) while others show either little change in pulse period or display erratic spin-down and spin-up behavior.<ref name="bildsten" />

The explanation of this difference can be found in the physical nature of the two pulsar classes. Over 99% of radio pulsars are single objects that radiate away their rotational energy in the form of [[relativistic particle]]s and [[magnetic dipole]] radiation, lighting up any nearby nebulae that surround them. In contrast, X-ray pulsars are members of [[binary star system]]s and accrete matter from either stellar winds or accretion disks. The accreted matter transfers [[angular momentum]] to (or from) the neutron star causing the spin rate to increase or decrease at rates that are often hundreds of times faster than the typical spin down rate in radio pulsars. Exactly why the X-ray pulsars show such varied spin behavior is still not clearly understood.