The Ultrastrong Fields of Anomalous X-ray Pulsars
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #211, #144.01, United States Of America, 1 - 04 December 2007, pp.996, (Summary Text)
- Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
- Country: United States Of America
- Page Numbers: pp.996
- Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) are a class of neutron stars that are believed to harbor the strongest magnetic fields in the universe. Even though indirect evidence of their strong fields, such as their energetic bursts and their rapid spindowns, has been accumulating for almost a decade, a direct measurement of their surface field strengths has not been made to date. I will present a coherent physical model of their surfaces and magnetospheres which explains very well their spectral characteristics. I will report the first spectroscopic measurement of the surface magnetic field strengths of several AXPs, which are remarkably close to the values inferred from their spindown rates. Finally, I will discuss the prospects of detecting directly the proton cyclotron features in their X-ray spectra with current and future X-ray missions.