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Optical and Infrared Observations of Anomalous X-ray Pulsars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2016

Martin Durant
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, 60 St George St, Toronto, M5S 3H8, Canada
Marten H. van Kerkwijk
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, 60 St George St, Toronto, M5S 3H8, Canada
Ferdi Hulleman
Affiliation:
Universiteit Utrecht, Postbus 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract

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The detection of optical/infrared counterparts to Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) has greatly increased our understanding of these systems. Models for the AXP phenomenon were based upon their X-ray emission, and all but the magnetar model made predictions for the optical/infrared that have now been falsified. With detections in hand, detailed studies of the optical/infrared to X-ray flux ratios, variability, and the spectral energy distributions have become possible. We present new data on two AXPs taken with Keck and Magellan, and compare the results with predictions made in the context of the magnetar model, in which the emission is due to ion currents flowing in the ≳ 1014G magnetosphere of young neutron stars.

Type
Part 5: Magnetars, Central Compact Objects and Isolated Neutron Stars
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2004 

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