Magnetars: Progress and Puzzles
Sackler Lecture
McGill
Host:
Abstract:
The past decade has brought recognition that neutron stars have much more diverse observational properties than was previously realized. In particular, evidence for the existence of magnetars, ultra-highly magnetized, isolated young neutron stars is now compelling. In this talk, I will review the evidence for the existence of magnetars, highlighting successes of the magnetar model in observations primarily of the so-called Anomalous X-ray Pulsars. However I will also describe the currently remaining puzzles in the field, of which there are many.