Related papers: Pulsars and magnetars
Soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) and anomalous x-ray pulsars (AXPs) are young (<100 kyr), radio-quiet, x-ray pulsars which have been rapidly spun-down to slow spin periods clustered at 5-12 s. Nearly all of these unusual pulsars also appear…
Many of the properties of anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) are still a matter of much debate, as is the connection (if any) between these two groups of sources. In cases where we can identify the supernova…
Magnetars are neutron stars in which a strong magnetic field is the main energy source. About two dozens of magnetars, plus several candidates, are currently known in our Galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds. They appear as highly variable…
The detection of optical/infrared counterparts to Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) has greatly increased our understanding of these systems. Models for the AXP phenomenon were based upon their X-ray emission, and all but the magnetar model…
Anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma repeaters (SGRs) are two small classes of X-ray sources strongly suspected to host a magnetar, i.e. an ultra-magnetized neutron star with $B\approx 10^14-10^15 G. Many SGRs/AXPs are known to be…
In the last years, optical studies of Isolated Neutron Stars (INSs) have expanded from the more classical rotation-powered ones to other categories, like the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) and the Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs), which make…
Soft gamma repeaters and anomalous x-ray pulsars form a rapidly increasing group of x-ray sources exhibiting sporadic emission of short bursts. They are believed to be magnetars, i.e. neutron stars powered by extreme magnetic fields,…
We examined the fall-back disk models, and in general accretion, proposed to explain the properties of anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs), soft gamma repeaters (SGRs), and radio pulsars (PSRs). We checked the possibility of some gas remaining…
Magnetars (SGRs and AXPs) are one of the most evolutionary paths of a neutron star. These objects have an ultra-strong magnetic field $B \sim 10^{15}$ G at their surface and show persistent X-ray pulsations and transient bursts. Till date…
Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs) are among the most enigmatic sources known today. Exhibiting huge X- and Gamma-ray bursts and flares, as well as soft quiescent X-ray emission, their energy source remains a mystery. Just as mysterious are…
Energy losses from isolated neutron stars are commonly attributed to the emission of electromagnetic radiation from a rotating point-like magnetic dipole in vacuum. This emission mechanism predicts a braking index $n=3$, which is not…
We examine the timing history of several anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs), and find that they exhibit spin down irregularities statistically similar to those of radio pulsars. We propose that these irregularities are simply glitches like…
Magnetars and many of the magnetar-related objects are summarized together and discussed. It is shown that there is an abuse of language in the use of "magnetar". Anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma-ray repeaters are well-known magnetar…
Magnetars are young and highly magnetized neutron stars which display a wide array of X-ray activity including short bursts, large outbursts, giant flares and quasi-periodic oscillations, often coupled with interesting timing behavior…
It is now widely accepted that soft gamma repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars are the observational manifestations of magnetars, i.e. sources powered by their own magnetic energy. This view was supported by the fact that these `magnetar…
Important constraints on the properties of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) and Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters (SGRs) can be provided by their associations with supernova remnants (SNRs). We have made a radio search for SNRs towards the AXPs RX…
I summarize recent developments in the magnetar model of the Soft Gamma Repeaters and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars, give a critical inventory of alternative models for the AXPs, and outline the improved diagnostics expected from present…
The Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs) are some of the most interesting groups of pulsars that have been intensively studied in the recent years. They are understood as neutron stars (NSs) with super strong…
Currently, two competing models are invoked in order to explain the observable properties of Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs). One model assumes that AXP emission is powered by a strongly magnetized neutron star - i.e., a magnetar. Other…
Thermal emission from the surface of an ultramagnetic neutron star is believed to contribute significantly to the soft X-ray flux of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars. We compare the detailed predictions of models of the surface emission from a…