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Neutron Stars and Pulsars

:	Werner Becker
:	Werner Becker
:	Neutron Stars and Pulsars
:	Springer-Verlag
:	9783540769651
:	1
:	CHF 275.80
:

:	Astronomie
:	English

:	697
:	Wasserzeichen/DRM
:	PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
:	PDF

Neutron stars are the most compact astronomical objects in the universe which are accessible by direct observation. Studying neutron stars means studying physics in regimes unattainable in any terrestrial laboratory.

Understandi g their observed complex phenomena requires a wide range of scientific disciplines, including the nuclear and condensed matter physics of very dense matter in neutron star interiors, plasma physics and quantum electrodynamics of magnetospheres, and the relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics of electron-positron pulsar winds interacting with some ambient medium. Not to mention the test bed neutron stars provide for general relativity theories, and their importance as potential sources of gravitational waves. It is this variety of disciplines which, among others, makes neutron star research so fascinating, not only for those who have been working in the field for many years but also for students and young scientists.

The aim of this book is to serve as a reference work which not only reviews the progress made since the early days of pulsar astronomy, but especially focuses on questions such as: 'What have we learned about the subject and how did we learn it?', 'What are the most important open questions in this area?' and 'What new tools, telescopes, observations, and calculations are needed to answer these questions?'.

All authors who have contributed to this book have devoted a significant part of their scientific careers to exploring the nature of neutron stars and understanding pulsars. Everyone has paid special attention to writing educational comprehensive review articles with the needs of beginners, students and young scientists as potential readers in mind. This book will be a valuable source of information for these groups.

	Preface	6
	Contents	8
	Contributors	14
	Radio Pulsar Statistics	17
	1.1 Introduction	17
	1.2 The Observed Pulsar Spatial Distribution	20
	1.3 Selection Effects in Radio Pulsar Surveys	21
	1.4 Techniques to Account for Observational Selection	23
	1.4.1 Population Inversion Techniques	23
	1.4.2 Monte Carlo Population Synthesis	24
	1.5 Outstanding Problems	25
	1.5.1 Population Size and Birth Rate	26
	1.5.2 The Birth Spin Periods of Pulsars	27
	1.5.3 Period Evolution and Field Decay of Isolated Pulsars	27
	1.5.4 Statistical Puzzles in the Millisecond Pulsar Population	28
	1.5.5 Where Are All the Isolated “Recycled” Pulsars?	29
	1.5.6 How Much Do We Understand About Globular Cluster Pulsars?	30
	1.6 Concluding Remarks	30
	An Open Approach to Pulsar Population Syntheses	31
	References	32
	Radio Emission Properties of Pulsars	34
	2.1 Introduction	34
	2.2 Parkes Multi-Beam Pulsar Surveys	37
	2.3 Other Recent Surveys	40
	2.4 Pulsar Nulling and Mode Changing	42
	2.5 Pulse Modulation and Drifting	46
	2.6 Giant and Not-So-Giant Pulses	48
	2.7 Transient Radio Emission from a Magnetar	50
	2.8 Rotation Axis: Proper Motion Correlation	51
	2.9 Conclusions	53
	References	53
	Rotating Radio Transients	55
	3.1 Introduction	55
	3.2 The Discovery of Rotating Radio Transients	57
	3.3 Ongoing Radio Observations of the RRATs	62
	3.3.1 J0848- 43	63
	3.3.2 J1317- 5759	64
	3.3.3 J1443- 60	64
	3.3.4 J1754- 30	65
	3.3.5 J1819- 1458	65
	3.3.6 J1826- 14	65
	3.3.7 J1839- 01	65
	3.3.8 J1846- 02	66
	3.3.9 J1848- 12	66
	3.3.10 J1911+00	67
	3.3.11 J1913+1333	67
	3.4 X-Ray Properties of the RRATs	68
	3.4.1 J1317- 5759	69
	3.4.2 J1819- 1458	69
	3.4.3 J1913+1333	72
	3.5 What Are They?	73
	3.6 Population Estimates	75
	3.7 Recent Discoveries	77
	3.8 Concluding Remarks	78
	References	79
	Intermittent Pulsars	81
	4.1 Introduction	81
	4.2 PSR B1931+24	81
	4.3 Discussion	84
	References	86
	The Double Pulsar: A Unique Lab for Relativistic Plasma Physics and Tests of General Relativity	87
	5.1 Introduction	87
	5.2 The Double Pulsar	88
	5.2.1 A Laboratory for Plasma Physics	88
	5.2.2 A Laboratory for Strong-Field Gravity	91
	5.2.3 Space-Motion and Evolution of the Double Pulsar	101
	5.3 Orbital Decay Measurements and Alternative Theories of Gravity	102
	5.4 Future Tests	102
	5.5 Concluding Remarks	103
	References	104
	X-Ray Emission from Pulsars and Neutron Stars	105
	6.1 Introduction	105
	6.2 Physics and Astrophysics of Isolated Neutron Stars	109
	6.2.1 Rotation-Powered Pulsars: The Magnetic Braking Model	110
	6.2.2 High-Energy Emission Models	112
	6.3 High-Energy Emission Properties of Neutron Stars	117
	6.3.1 Young Neutron Stars in Supernova Remnants	117
	6.3.2 Cooling Neutron Stars	129
	6.3.3 Old Nearby Radio Pulsars	129
	6.3.4 Millisecond Pulsars	133
	6.4 Summary	139
	6.4.1 Concluding Remarks	151
	References	151
	Isolated Neutron Stars: The Challenge of Simplicity	155
	7.1 Introduction	155
	7.2 The Magnificent Seven in Parade	158
	7.2.1 Timing Properties	158
	7.2.2 Spectral Properties	159
	7.2.3 Optical Counterparts, Proper Motions and Distances	162
	7.3 Modeling the Surface Emission	163
	7.3.1 Pulse Profiles	164
	7.3.2 Spectra	168
	7.4 Open Issues and Future Perspectives	172
	References	175
	Millisecond Pulsars in Globular Clusters and the Field	178
	8.1 Introduction	178
	8.2 Early X-Ray Studies of MSPs	179
	8.2.1 ROSAT, RXTE, and ASCA Observations	179
	8.3 Chandra Studies of MSPs in Globular Clusters	180
	8.3.1 47 Tuc	180
	8.3.2 NGC 6397	182
	8.3.3 M28 and Terzan 5	185
	8.3.4 Other Clusters	186
	8.4 MSPs as Beacons for Constraining the Neutron Star Equation of State	187
	8.4.1 PSR J0437- 4715	188
	8.4.2 PSRs J0030+0451 and J2124- 3358	189
	8.5 Future Prospects	190
	8.5.1 Searches for Radio-Quiet MSPs	190
	References	192
	Theory of Radiative Transfer in Neutron Star Atmospheres and Its Applications	194