Advances in Magnetars

A special issue of Universe (ISSN 2218-1997). This special issue belongs to the section "Compact Objects".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 3810

Special Issue Editor

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Waterloo, ON N2L 2Y5, Canada
Interests: high energy astrophysics; cosmology; plasma astrophysics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to their ultrastrong magnetic fields, magnetars are probably the most mysterious objects in the universe. Recently, the study of magnetars has received increasing amounts of attention, particularly in many proposed theoretical models, including gamma ray bursts, superluminous supernovae, fast radio bursts, as well as binary neutron star mergers.

In the meantime, the observation of magnetars has entered a new stage, as X-ray polarization telescopes, including IXPE and eXTP, are about to be launched. However, the profound physical implications of the strong magnetic fields remain to be explored. The mechanism for soft gamma ray bursts and outbursts, the mechanical and thermal properties of the crust, and plasma physics and radiative processes in the magnetosphere are essential to understand persistent and transient radiations of magnetars. In this Special Issue, we collect recent advances from observations and theories in the study of magnetars.

Topics include (but are not limited to):

  • X-ray observations of magnetars;
  • Fast radio bursts;
  • Polarization signatures of magnetars;
  • Magnetar crust;
  • Plasma and radiations in the magnetosphere.

Dr. Xinyu Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • magnetars
  • magnetic fields
  • neutron stars
  • X-ray observation
  • transient events

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 490 KiB  
Article
The Elasticity of the Neutron Star Mantle: The Improved Compressible Liquid Drop Model for Cylindrical Phases
by Nikita A. Zemlyakov and Andrey I. Chugunov
Universe 2023, 9(5), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe9050220 - 04 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1134
Abstract
Neutron stars are the densest objects in the Universe. They have a microscopically homogeneous core and heterogeneous crust. In particular, there may be a specific layer inside neutron stars, the mantle, which consists of substantially non-spherical nuclei immersed in a background of relativistic [...] Read more.
Neutron stars are the densest objects in the Universe. They have a microscopically homogeneous core and heterogeneous crust. In particular, there may be a specific layer inside neutron stars, the mantle, which consists of substantially non-spherical nuclei immersed in a background of relativistic degenerate electrons and quasi-free neutrons. In this paper, we reconsider the transverse shear modulus for cylindrical phases of the mantle within the framework of the compressible liquid drop model. We demonstrate that transverse shearing affects the shape of nuclear clusters: their cross-section becomes elliptical. This effect reduces the respective elastic constant. Using a simple model, we perform all derivations analytically and obtain the expression for the transverse shear modulus, which can be useful for astrophysical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Magnetars)
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23 pages, 588 KiB  
Article
Onset of Electron Captures and Shallow Heating in Magnetars
by Nicolas Chamel and Anthea Francesca Fantina
Universe 2022, 8(6), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8060328 - 11 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1872
Abstract
The loss of magnetic pressure accompanying the decay of the magnetic field in a magnetar may trigger exothermic electron captures by nuclei in the shallow layers of the stellar crust. Very accurate analytical formulas are obtained for the threshold density and pressure, as [...] Read more.
The loss of magnetic pressure accompanying the decay of the magnetic field in a magnetar may trigger exothermic electron captures by nuclei in the shallow layers of the stellar crust. Very accurate analytical formulas are obtained for the threshold density and pressure, as well as for the maximum amount of heat that can be possibly released, taking into account the Landau–Rabi quantization of electron motion. These formulas are valid for arbitrary magnetic field strengths, from the weakly quantizing regime to the most extreme situation in which electrons are all confined to the lowest level. Numerical results are also presented based on experimental nuclear data supplemented with predictions from the Brussels-Montreal model HFB-24. This same nuclear model has been already employed to calculate the equation of state in all regions of magnetars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Magnetars)
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