Pulsar statistics with nonexponential magnetic field decay

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (36) References (48) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Pulsar Statistics with Nonexponential Magnetic Field Decay Sang, Yeming ; Chanmugam, G. Abstract The evolution of neutron star magnetic fields plays a fundamental role in a wide variety of phenomena associated with pulsars, X-ray binaries, and gamma-ray bursters. It has been widely, but not unequivocally, assumed that neutron star magnetic fields decay exponentially. However, many of the proposed models for field decay suggest that the decay is related to the ohmic decay of crustal fields or electrical currents which, however, decay nonexponentially in general. Using the calculated field decay histories, pulsar statistics are examined. It is shown that nonexponential field decay is consistent with the current understanding of pulsar statistics. Since the field decays nonexponentially and may retain a substantial fraction of its initial strength at ages of a billion or more yr, it may provide a natural explanation for the millisecond pulsar magnetic fields. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: November 1990 DOI: 10.1086/169369 Bibcode: 1990ApJ...363..597S Keywords: Magnetic Stars; Pulsars; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Magnetic Fields; Radio Emission; Stellar Interiors; Stellar Luminosity; Stellar Models; Astrophysics; PULSARS; STARS: MAGNETIC; STARS: NEUTRON; STARS: STELLAR STATISTICS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (2)