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R.C. Duncan (University of Texas)
I will give an overview of the physics of Soft Gamma Repeaters (SGRs)and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) which are believed to be ultra-magnetized neutron stars, or ``magnetars." This will include: the formation of magnetars via alpha-Omega dynamos in rapidly-rotating, newborn neutron stars; interior magnetic evolution of these stars; triggering mechanisms for bursts and giant flares; the cooling and evaporation of ``trapped fireballs" (magnetically-confined pair-photon plasmas) and the physics of outbursts; spindown evolution and glitches; and future prospects for magnetar astrophysics, including the detection of extragalactic magnetar flares.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.