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Magnetic and spin evolution of pulsars

Miri, Jahan M (1996) Magnetic and spin evolution of pulsars. In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 283 (4). pp. 1214-1226.

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Abstract

We explore the consequences of the model of spin-down-induced flux expulsion for the magnetic field evolution in solitary as well as in binary neutron stars. The spin evolution of pulsars, allowing for their field evolution according to this model, is shown to be consistent with the existing observational constraints in both low- and high-mass X-ray binary systems. The contribution from pulsars recycled in massive binaries to the observed excess in the number of low-field (10(11)-10(12) G) solitary pulsars is argued to be negligible in comparison with that of normal pulsars undergoing a 'restricted' field decay predicted by the adopted field decay model. Magnetic fields of neutron stars born in close binaries with intermediate- or high-mass main-sequence companions are predicted to decay down to values as low as similar to 10(6) G, which would leave them unobservable as pulsars during most of their lifetimes. The post-recycling evolution of some of these systems can, however, account for the observed binary pulsars having neutron star or massive white dwarf companions. Pulsars recycled in the disc population low-mass binaries are expected to have residual fields greater than or similar to 10(8) G, while for those processed in globular clusters larger residual fields are predicted because of the lower field strength of the neutron star at the epoch of binary formation. A value of tau similar to 1-2 x 10(7) yr for the mean value of the Ohmic decay time-scale in the crusts of neutron stars is suggested, based on the consistency of the model predictions with the observed distribution of periods and magnetic fields in the single and binary pulsars.

Item Type: Journal Article
Publication: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher: John wiley and sons
Additional Information: Copyright of this article belongs to John Wiley and Sons.
Department/Centre: Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Joint Astronomy Programme
Date Deposited: 03 May 2011 07:32
Last Modified: 03 May 2011 07:32
URI: http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/37346

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