The Atmospheres of Young Neutron Stars
Feryal Ozel (Harvard) - 17 Oct at 12:00 noon
Young neutron stars come in a variety of flavors, exhibiting a range
of timing and spectral properties from normal radio pulsars to
isolated cooling compact sources and Anomalous X-ray Pulsars. In many
cases the high energy emission can be attributed to thermal processes
in the neutron star atmosphere. The differences in magnetic field
strength and surface composition are then prime candidates as an
explanation for this wide range of behavior. I will present in this
talk the results from recent detailed radiative transfer calculations
in a strongly magnetized light-element plasma, taking into account for
the first time many physical processes relevant for this high-field
regime. I will then apply these results to several classes of sources
and show that their spectral and variability properties can be
explained by emission from the surface of a magnetic neutron
star. Surface emission carries signatures of the gravitational field
around the neutron star as well as of its field strength and geometry,
thus providing a direct probe of the neutron star equation of state,
cooling mechanisms, surface composition and the range of birth
magnetic field strengths.
The seminar will be held in 501 Campbell Hall.
Return to seminar schedule