Modeling the broadband persistent emission of magnetars

In this paper, we discuss our first attempts to model the broadband persistent emission of magnetars within a self consistent, physical scenario. We present the predictions of a synthetic model that we calculated with a new Monte Carlo 3-D radiative code. The basic idea is that soft thermal photons (e.g. emitted by the star surface) can experience resonant cyclotron upscattering by a population of relativistic electrons threated in the twisted magnetosphere. Our code is specifically tailored to work in the ultra-magnetized regime; polarization and QED effects are consistently accounted for, as well different configurations for the magnetosphere. We discuss the predicted spectral properties in the 0.1-1000 keV range, the polarization properties, and we present the model application to a sample of magnetars soft X-ray spectra.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Advances in Space Research. Proceedings of the conference "Frontieres of Space Astrophysics, Neutron Stars & Gamma Ray Bursts", Cairo/Alexandria, 30 March- 4 April 200

Extensive population synthesis of isolated neutron stars with field decay

We perform population synthesis studies of different types of neutron stars taking into account the magnetic field decay. For the first time, we confront our results with observations using {\it simultaneously} the Log N -- Log S distribution for nearby isolated neutron stars, the Log N -- Log L distribution for magnetars, and the distribution of radio pulsars in the $P$ -- $\dot P$ diagram. We find that our theoretical model is consistent with all sets of data if the initial magnetic field distribution function follows a log-normal law with $\sim 13.25$ and $\sigma_{\log B_0}\sim 0.6$. The typical scenario includes about 10% of neutron stars born as magnetars, significant magnetic field decay during the first million years of a NS life. Evolutionary links between different subclasses may exist, although robust conclusions are not yet possible. We apply the obtained field distribution and the model of decay to study long-term evolution of neuton stars till the stage of accretion from the interstellar medium. It is shown that though the subsonic propeller stage can be relatively long, initially highly magnetized neutron stars ($B_0 > \sim 10^{13}$ G) reach the accretion regime within the Galactic lifetime if their kick velocities are not too large. The fact that in previous studies made $>$10 years ago, such objects were not considered results in a slight increase of the Accretor fraction in comparison with earlier conclusions. Most of the neutron stars similar to the Magnificent seven are expected to become accreting from the interstellar medium after few billion years of their evolution. They are the main predecestors of accreting isolated neutron stars.Comment: 4 pages, conference "Astrophysics of Neutron Stars - 2010" in honor of M. Ali Alpar, Izmir, Turke

The Galactic centre pulsar population

The recent discovery of a magnetar in the Galactic centre region has allowed Spitler et al. to characterize the interstellar scattering in that direction. They find that the temporal broadening of the pulse profile of the magnetar is substantially less than that predicted by models of the electron density of that region. This raises the question of what the plausible limits for the number of potentially observable pulsars - i.e., the number of pulsars beaming towards the Earth - in the Galactic centre are. In this paper, using reasonable assumptions - namely, (i) the luminosity function of pulsars in the Galactic centre region is the same as that in the field, (ii) the region has had a constant pulsar formation rate, (iii) the spin and luminosity evolution of magnetars and pulsars are similar, and (iv) the scattering in the direction of the Galactic centre magnetar is representative of the entire inner parsec - we show that the potentially observable population of pulsars in the inner parsec has a conservative upper limit of $\sim$ 200, and that it is premature to conclude that the number of pulsars in this region is small. We also show that the observational results so far are consistent with this number and make predictions for future radio pulsar surveys of the Galactic centre.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

Magnetars: the physics behind observations

Magnetars are the strongest magnets in the present universe and the combination of extreme magnetic field, gravity and density makes them unique laboratories to probe current physical theories (from quantum electrodynamics to general relativity) in the strong field limit. Magnetars are observed as peculiar, burst--active X-ray pulsars, the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) and the Soft Gamma Repeaters (SGRs); the latter emitted also three "giant flares," extremely powerful events during which luminosities can reach up to 10^47 erg/s for about one second. The last five years have witnessed an explosion in magnetar research which has led, among other things, to the discovery of transient, or "outbursting," and "low-field" magnetars. Substantial progress has been made also on the theoretical side. Quite detailed models for explaining the magnetars' persistent X-ray emission, the properties of the bursts, the flux evolution in transient sources have been developed and confronted with observations. New insight on neutron star asteroseismology has been gained through improved models of magnetar oscillations. The long-debated issue of magnetic field decay in neutron stars has been addressed, and its importance recognized in relation to the evolution of magnetars and to the links among magnetars and other families of isolated neutron stars. The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview in which the observational results are discussed in the light of the most up-to-date theoretical models and their implications. This addresses not only the particular case of magnetar sources, but the more fundamental issue of how physics in strong magnetic fields can be constrained by the observations of these unique sources.Comment: 81 pages, 24 figures, This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article submitted to Reports on Progress in Physic

Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays Detected by Auger and AGASA:Corrections for Galactic Magnetic Field Deflections, Source Populations, and Arguments for Multiple-Components

The origin and composition of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray Events (UHECRs) are under debate. Here we improve constraints on the source population(s) and compositions of UHECRs by accounting for UHECR deflections within existing Galactic magnetic field models (GMFs). We used Monte Carlo simulations for UHECRs detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and AGASA in order to determine their outside-the-Galaxy arrival directions, and compared these with Galactic and extragalactic sources. The simulations, which used UHECR compositions from protons to Iron and seven models of the ordered GMF, include uncertainties in the GMF and a turbulent magnetic field. The correlation between UHECRs and nearby extended radiogalaxies (Nagar & Matulich 2008) remains valid, even strengthened, within several GMF models. Both the nearest radiogalaxy CenA, and the nearest radio-extended BL Lac, CGCG 413-019, are likely sources of multiple UHECRs. The correlation appears to be linked to the presence of the extended radio source rather than a tracer of an underlying population. It is possible, but unlikely, that all UHECRs originate in the nearby radiogalaxy CenA. For light UHECRs about a third of UHECRs can be "matched" to nearby galaxies with extended radio jets. The remaining UHECRs could also be explained as originating in extended radiogalaxies if one has at least one of: a large UHECR mean free path, a high cluster and/or intergalactic magnetic field, a heavy composition for two-thirds of the detected UHECRs. Several UHECRs have trajectories which pass close to Galactic magnetars and/or microquasars. If extended radiogalaxies are, or trace, UHECR sources, the most consistent models for the ordered GMF are the BS-S and BS-A models; the GMF models of Sun et al. 2008 are acceptable if a dipole component is added.Comment: to appear in A&

Gravitational waves from resolvable massive black hole binary systems and observations with Pulsar Timing Arrays

Massive black holes are key components of the assembly and evolution of cosmic structures and a number of surveys are currently on-going or planned to probe the demographics of these objects and to gain insight into the relevant physical processes. Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs) currently provide the only means to observe gravitational radiation from massive black hole binary systems with masses >10^7 solar masses. The whole cosmic population produces a stochastic background that could be detectable with upcoming Pulsar Timing Arrays. Sources sufficiently close and/or massive generate gravitational radiation that significantly exceeds the level of the background and could be individually resolved. We consider a wide range of massive black hole binary assembly scenarios, we investigate the distribution of the main physical parameters of the sources, such as masses and redshift, and explore the consequences for Pulsar Timing Arrays observations. Depending on the specific massive black hole population model, we estimate that on average at least one resolvable source produces timing residuals in the range ~5-50 ns. Pulsar Timing Arrays, and in particular the future Square Kilometre Array (SKA), can plausibly detect these unique systems, although the events are likely to be rare. These observations would naturally complement on the high-mass end of the massive black hole distribution function future surveys carried out by the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. Results revised (differences within a factor of two) after a bug in the code for generating the timing residuals has been fixe