Since the magnetic field channels the electrons to the north and south magnetic poles of the neutron star, the photons emitted by the electrons emerge in two separate beams , one from the north magnetic pole, and one from the south magnetic pole. If the beam of radiation sweeps across the Earth, we see a flash, or pulse of radiation. About 600 pulsars have been cataloged in our galaxy. However, we will not see a neutron star pulsing unless one of its beams of radiation happens to sweep across us. Every pulsar is a neutron star, but not every neutron star is a pulsar as seen from Earth.
Neutron stars are potentially powerful energy sources.
Drop 1 kilogram of hydrogen onto a 2 M sun neutron star. Neutron stars in close binary systems have matter dumped onto them by their normal stellar companion. Hence, the neutron star which is dumped on is a very strong X-ray source. The upper limit for a neutron star is a bit uncertain, but the best available calculations indicate that it is 3 M sun .