The strongest cosmic magnets: soft gamma-ray repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars
Abstract:
Two classes of X-ray pulsars, the anomalous X-ray pulsars and the soft gamma-ray repeaters, have been recognized in the last decade as the most promising candidates for being magnetars: isolated neutron stars powered by magnetic energy. I review the observational properties of these objects, focussing on the most recent results, and their interpretation in the magnetar model. Alternative explanations, in particular those based on accretion from residual disks, are also considered. The possible relations between these sources and other classes of neutron stars and astrophysical objects are also discussed.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
On the trigger mechanisms for SGR giant flares
Ramandeep Gill,Jeremy S. Heyl +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined two trigger mechanisms, one internal and the other external to the neutron star, that give rise to the intense soft gamma-ray repeater (SGR) giant flares.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Energy Spectrum of Anomalous X-ray Pulsars and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters
Joachim Trümper,Andreas Zezas,Andreas Zezas,Ünal Ertan,Nikolaos D. Kylafis,Nikolaos D. Kylafis +5 more
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the power-law, hard X-ray spectra are produced in the accretion flow mainly by bulk-motion Comptonization of soft photons emitted at the neutron star surface.
Journal ArticleDOI
Chandra observations of the high-magnetic-field radio pulsar j1718–3718
Weiwei Zhu,Victoria M. Kaspi,Victoria M. Kaspi,Maura McLaughlin,Maura McLaughlin,George G. Pavlov,Chi-Yung Ng,Richard N. Manchester,Bryan Gaensler,Peter M. Woods +9 more
TL;DR: In this article, Chandra observations of the high-magnetic-field pulsar J1718-3718 (B = 7.4 × 1013 G) were used to study the relationship between magnetars and radio pulsars.
Journal ArticleDOI
Topology of magnetars external field – I. Axially symmetric fields
TL;DR: In this paper, a general method to generate multipolar solutions of the Grad-Schliiter-Shafranov (GSS) equation was discussed, and the spectra and lightcurves for these multipolar, globally twisted magnetospheres of ultramagnetized neutron stars were compared with those of a purely dipolar configuration.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Outburst Decay of the Low Magnetic Field Magnetar SWIFT J1822.3-1606: Phase-resolved Analysis and Evidence for a Variable Cyclotron Feature
Guillermo A. Rodríguez Castillo,Guillermo A. Rodríguez Castillo,G. L. Israel,Andrea Tiengo,Andrea Tiengo,Andrea Tiengo,David Salvetti,Roberto Turolla,Roberto Turolla,Silvia Zane,Nanda Rea,Nanda Rea,Paolo Esposito,Paolo Esposito,Sandro Mereghetti,Rosalba Perna,Luigi Stella,José A. Pons,Sergio Campana,D. Gotz,Sara Motta +20 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the timing and spectral properties of the low-magnetic field, transient magnetar SWIFT J1822.3−1606 as it approached quiescence.
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