Final answer:
To see a potential neutron star, you would require telescopes capable of detecting various wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum, such as X-rays or gamma-rays. The James Webb Space Telescope and the Cherenkov Telescope Array are examples of equipment that could identify the high-energy emissions from neutron stars, particularly magnetars.
Step-by-step explanation:
Distinguishing Between White Dwarf and Neutron Star in a Binary System
To observe a potential neutron star, you would need a telescope capable of detecting not just visible light but also other wavelengths, such as X-rays or gamma-rays. Neutron stars can be identified by their rapid rotation and strong magnetic fields. Particularly, if it's a magnetar, a type of neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field, it will emit high-energy emissions that can be detected by specialized telescopes. For example, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will be capable of observing in infrared, which is useful since neutron stars can be strong infrared sources. Ground-based telescopes like the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), while useful for a wide field of view and transients, might not directly observe neutron stars but could indirectly observe phenomena associated with them such as supernova remnants or pulsar wind nebulae.
Telescopes like the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) could also be used to detect very energetic gamma rays from neutron stars, specifically magnetars. The detection of rapid pulses, adhering to the principle of conservation of angular momentum, would help confirm the presence of a neutron star in a binary system. Overall, using a combination of telescopes operating across different wavelengths would be the most effective strategy to distinguish between a binary system with a main-sequence star and a white dwarf versus one with a main-sequence star and a neutron star.