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SUMMARY:Highly magnetic neutron stars: bewildering astrophysical laborator
 ies and cosmological tools - Rosalba Perna (Colorado)
DTSTART:20131121T163000Z
DTEND:20131121T173000Z
UID:TALK43546@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Michele Trenti
DESCRIPTION:Anomalous X-ray Pulsars and Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters (SGRs) ar
 e young neutron stars characterized by high X-ray quiescent luminosities\,
  outbursts\, and\, in the case of SGRs\, sporadic giant flares.  They are 
 believed to be magnetars\, that is neutron stars powered by ultra-strong m
 agnetic fields. However\, the diversity of their\nbehaviours\, and\, espec
 ially\, the observation of magnetar-like bursts from 'low-field' neutron s
 tars\, has been a theoretical puzzle.  In the first part of the talk\, I w
 ill discuss results of long-term MHD simulations which\, by following the 
 evolution of magnetic stresses within the neutron star crust\, have allowe
 d to relate the observed magnetar phenomenology to the physical properties
  of the neutron stars\, and in particular to their age and magnetic field 
 strength and topology.  The dichotomy of 'high-B' field pulsars versus mag
 netars is naturally explained\, and occasional outbursts from old\, low B-
 field neutron stars are predicted.  In the second part of the talk\, I wil
 l discuss how observations of highly magnetized neutron stars can be handy
  tools in the cosmological domain\, and in particular as a way to set cons
 traints on the hypothetical particle 'axion'.
LOCATION:Sackler Lecture Theatre\, IoA (tea at 4:00 pm)
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