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Theory of magnetars
Author(s) -
Harding A.K.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3994(199908)320:4/5<260::aid-asna260>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - magnetar , pulsar , physics , neutron star , astrophysics , rotational energy , astronomy , magnetic field , radiation , nuclear physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics
The discovery of long periods and high period derivatives in soft gamma‐ray repeaters (SGRs) over the past year has raised the possibility that magnetars, neutron stars having magnetic fields above 10 14 G, may be real astrophysical objects. Magnetars are possibly the first astrophysical sources to derive their primary radiation power from magnetic energy, which substantially exceeds their rotational energy. In addition, the physics of supercritical magnetic fields operates in a more exotic realm than even that of normal pulsars. I will discuss acceleration and radiation models for the SGR bursts and quiescent emission from SGRs and anomalous X‐ray pulsars.