A PULSAR WITH A MAGNETIC FIELD OF 8 x 10¹⁴ GAUSS has been studied with the Rossi X Ray Telescope (RXTE). Referred to as a soft gamma-ray repeater (SGR1806-20) since it is a source of recurring bursts of low-energy gamma-rays (whereas gamma ray bursters don't emit higher energy gammas and don't repeat), this neutron star rotates with a period of about 7.4 seconds. The size of the magnetic field, 100 times larger than that of ordinary radio pulsars, is deduced from the rotation period and the slowdown of that rotation. Such a highly magnetized neutron star has been called a "magnetar." The huge field (the largest magnetic field ever measured) puts the star's surface under great stress. According to one theory, the observed high energy bursts of radiation come about when the neutron star's crust cracks open. (C. Kouveliotou et al., Nature, 21 May 1998.)