Credit: Gavriil, Kaspi & Wood, 2002,
Nature, Vol 419, pg. 142
The Magnetic Connection
Astronomers have identified many strange things in the universe, so if an
astronomer regards something as anomalous, it must really stand out. The class
of objects known as Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (or AXPs) are just these types of
objects. Anomalous X-ray Pulsars have gained their title since, unlike the
"usual" types of pulsars, these objects can't be powered by accretion of matter
from a companion, or by rotation. Astronomers have puzzled about the true nature
of these objects for many years. A new observation by the Rossi X-ray Timing
Explorer (RXTE) might have finally provided a breakthrough in this
"anomalous" case. This new
observation shows that one well-studied AXP undergoes X-ray bursts, similar
to the types of bursts seen in other compact objects known as Soft Gamma-Ray
Repeaters. Soft Gamma Ray repeaters are thought to be "magnetars", compact
neutron stars with extremely strong magnetic fields. Astronomers now suspect
that AXPs may be the progenitors of Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters.
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Page Author: Dr. Michael F. Corcoran
Last modified September 30, 2002
