Magnetars are more complex than thought. Free Technical Library News

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Magnetars are more complex than thought

24.05.2013

Studies conducted with the Chandra X-ray Space Telescope have shown that magnetar space objects are much more diverse and numerous than previously thought.

Typically, when a massive star runs out of fuel, it collapses to form a neutron star, a superdense object only 15-25 km in diameter. Most neutron stars rotate rapidly around their axis (at a speed of several revolutions per second), but a small part of neutron stars have a low rotation rate - one revolution in a few seconds. In this case, all magnetars generate bursts of X-rays. Since the only plausible explanation for these flashes is a surge of magnetic field energy stored in the star, these objects are called magnetars.

Most magnetars have extremely powerful magnetic fields on the surface: tens and thousands of times stronger than that of an ordinary neutron star. However, new observations show that the magnetar SGR 0418 +5729 (SGR 0418 for short) is different from all its counterparts and has a magnetic field equal in strength to the magnetic fields of ordinary neutron stars. Thus, among the already rare objects of magnetars, at least one unique object with previously unknown characteristics appeared. In fact, this is an anomaly among anomalies.

Scientists have been studying SGR 0418 for more than three years and were able to accurately measure the magnitude of the unusual magnetar's external magnetic field. This was achieved by measuring the change in rotation speed during the SGR 0418 X-ray flare. Apparently, these flashes are caused by the formation of cracks in the crust of a neutron star. They release a huge amount of energy that has accumulated magnetic fields under the surface of a neutron star.

Using simulations of the evolution of a neutron star and its crust, as well as a model of the gradual weakening of its magnetic field, the researchers calculated that the age of SGR 0418 is about 550 thousand years. At first glance, this is not much, but in fact SGR 0418 is much older than most other magnetars, which is probably why the magnetic field on the surface has weakened so much over time. At the same time, X-ray flashes still occur, since the crust of the magnetar is weakened, and the internal magnetic field remains quite strong.

The example of SGR 0418 could mean that there are many "older" magnetars that we cannot detect due to the weakness of their external magnetic fields. There are probably 5-10 times more magnetars than previously thought. It turns out that a significant part of gamma-ray flashes in the Universe can be caused by the formation of magnetars, and not black holes. In addition, the contribution of magnetars to the ripples in space-time must be greater than astrophysicists thought.

Magnetar SGR 0418 was discovered in 2010. It is located at a distance of about 6500 light years from Earth.

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