High Magnetic Field Neutron Stars: from Rotation-powered Pulsars to Magnetars

Stephen C.-Y. Ng

McGill University

In this talk, I will present recent results from X-ray observations of two neutron stars with ultra-strong magnetic fields, AXP 1E 1547.0-5408 and PSR J1846-0258. The former is a magnetar that underwent energetic outbursts in 2008 and 2009. We found evidence of decoupling between the star's spin and radiative properties during the 2008 event, which calls into question the reliability of direct comparison between the spin-down-inferred magnetic field and that inferred spectrally. PSR J1846-0258 is a high B-field rotation-powered pulsar that exhibited magnetar-like outbursts in 2006. This is the only known example of transition object between the two classes of objects, offer an important link to understand magnetar physics. Our observations indicate a change in its braking index after the 2006 outburst. Also, the timing noise remains high as of 2009, although the X-ray flux and spectrum have already returned to the pre-outburst level.

Date:	Jeudi, le 4 novembre 2010
Heure:	11:30
Lieu:	Université de Montréal
	Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, Local D-460
Contact:	Pierre Bergeron