Universe Colloquium: Accreting magnetars

by Wei Wang

Wednesday 25 Jun 2014, 16:30 → 17:30 Europe/Berlin

seminar room (Excellence Cluster Universe, Boltzmannstrasse 2, Garching)

Magnetars are a special class of the neutron star with ultra-high magnetic field (i.e. >10^14 G). We discovered some X-ray binary systems with the neutron star of very long spin period (longer than 1000 s). These superslow pulsation X-ray pulsars also undergo the fast spin evolution. The standard binary evolution scenario and accretion models cannot explain these very long spin periods and fast spin evolution except for requiring an ultra-strong magnetic field higher than 10^14 G. Accreting magnetars are proposed in these superslow pulsation X-ray pulsars. Possible candidates of accreting magnetars and the connections are also briefly discussed. The Universe Colloquium is followed by a social gathering with wine and cheese.