Neutron Stars and Pulsars

Duncan R. Lorimer (auth.), Werner Becker (eds.)3540769641, 978-3-540-76964-4, 9783540769651, 354076965X

Neutron stars are the most compact astronomical objects in the universe which are accessible by direct observation. Studying neutron stars means studying physics in regimes unattainable in any terrestrial laboratory.

Understanding their observed complex phenomena requires a wide range of scientific disciplines, including the nuclear and condensed matter physics of very dense matter in neutron star interiors, plasma physics and quantum electrodynamics of magnetospheres, and the relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics of electron-positron pulsar winds interacting with some ambient medium. Not to mention the test bed neutron stars provide for general relativity theories, and their importance as potential sources of gravitational waves. It is this variety of disciplines which, among others, makes neutron star research so fascinating, not only for those who have been working in the field for many years but also for students and young scientists.

The aim of this book is to serve as a reference work which not only reviews the progress made since the early days of pulsar astronomy, but especially focuses on questions such as: “What have we learned about the subject and how did we learn it?”, “What are the most important open questions in this area?” and “What new tools, telescopes, observations, and calculations are needed to answer these questions?”.

All authors who have contributed to this book have devoted a significant part of their scientific careers to exploring the nature of neutron stars and understanding pulsars. Everyone has paid special attention to writing educational comprehensive review articles with the needs of beginners, students and young scientists as potential readers in mind. This book will be a valuable source of information for these groups.

Table of contents :
Front Matter….Pages i-xv
Radio Pulsar Statistics….Pages 1-17
Radio Emission Properties of Pulsars….Pages 19-39
Rotating Radio Transients….Pages 41-66
Intermittent Pulsars….Pages 67-72
The Double Pulsar: A Unique Lab for Relativistic Plasma Physics and Tests of General Relativity….Pages 73-90
X-Ray Emission from Pulsars and Neutron Stars….Pages 91-140
Isolated Neutron Stars: The Challenge of Simplicity….Pages 141-163
Millisecond Pulsars in Globular Clusters and the Field….Pages 165-179
Theory of Radiative Transfer in Neutron Star Atmospheres and Its Applications….Pages 181-211
Neutron Star Interiors and the Equation of State of Superdense Matter….Pages 213-245
Neutron Star Cooling: I….Pages 247-288
Neutron Star Cooling: II….Pages 289-318
Turning Points in the Evolution of Isolated Neutron Stars’Magnetic Fields….Pages 319-352
Pulsar Spin, Magnetic Fields, and Glitches….Pages 353-371
Pulsar Emission: Where to Go….Pages 373-420
The Theory of Pulsar Winds and Nebulae….Pages 421-450
Implications of HESS Observations of Pulsar….Pages 451-479
High Energy Emission from Pulsars and Pulsar Wind Nebulae….Pages 481-520
High-energy Emission from the Polar Cap and Slot Gap….Pages 521-542
Physics of Drifting Sub-pulses in Radio Pulsars….Pages 543-574
Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters and Magnetars….Pages 575-588
X-Ray Polarimetry and Its Potential Use for Understanding Neutron Stars….Pages 589-619
GeV Gamma-Ray Pulsar Detection….Pages 621-649
Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars….Pages 651-685
Back Matter….Pages 687-697