Neutron Star Properties from Observations of Pulsars and Pulsing X-ray Sources

Abstract

This paper reviews the information on neutron stars that has been obtained from radio and X-ray observations, with emphasis on recent results from timing studies. Included are summaries of the current theoretical picture of neutron stars, and the most recent evidence concerning stellar masses, radii, inertial moments, and magnetic fields. Also included are discussions of large frequency jumps (“macroglitches”), small-scale timing irregularities (“microglitches”), the characterization of the latter phenomenon in terms of random noise processes, and the use of both as probes of the internal structure and dynamics of neutron stars. Finally, some of the most promising directions for future work are briefly noted.