The Many Faces of Neutron Stars

The NATO Advanced Study Institute 'The Many Faces of Neutron Stars' was the fourth in a series focusing on the astrophysics of neutron stars, which started with the ASI 'Timing Neutron Stars' (Qe§me, Turkey, April 1988), and ~as followed by 'Neutron Stars, and Interdisciplinary Field' (Agia Pelagia, Greece, September 1990), and 'The Lives ofthe Neutron Stars' (Kemer, Turkey, Septem ber 1993). The first ASI had as its theme the main types of observations from which we infer the properties of neutron stars, i.e., the timing of radio pulsars and accret ing neutron stars in X-ray binaries. The second ASI centered on the interplay between various areas of physics and their sometimes exotic applications to the extreme conditions encountered in neutron stars. In the third ASI the evolu tionary connections that exist between different types of neutron stars provided the theme of the lectures. During the last several years the number of neutron stars in their various disguises, e.g., millisecond radio pulsars, single neutron star X-ray sources, and soft gamma-ray repeaters has increased substantially, and new phenomena have been discovered in known populations of neutron star systems, e.g., the kHz QPO in low-mass X-ray binaries. For this reason we have selected 'The Many Faces of Neutron Stars' as the theme of this fourth Advanced Study Institute on neutron stars.

Klappentext

A survey of recent progress in research on neutron stars, emphasising radio pulsars, accreting neutron stars in X-ray binaries, and the rotation-powered high-energy emission from isolated neutron stars. Among the subjects reviewed are: the broad history of neutron star research; the properties of high-density matter in neutron stars; thermal and magnetic field evolution; dynamics of neutron star crusts and glitches; detection of radio emission from pulsars; radio pulsar population; millisecond and binary radio pulsars; gamma-ray emission from radio pulsars; accreting neutron stars (and black holes) in X-ray binaries; the recently discovered kHz oscillations in low-mass X-ray binaries; anomalous X-ray pulsars; the Bursting Pulsar; X-ray emission from isolated neutron stars; neutron star atmosphere; coalescing neutron star binaries; and gamma ray bursts.

Inhalt

1. History.- The history of neutron stars: From early speculations to current problems.- 2. Neutron star structure.- Internal constitution of neutron and strange stars.- Topics in the theory of matter at sub-nuclear densities.- Dynamics of the neutron star interior.- Pulsar magnetic fields and glitches.- 3. Radio Pulsars.- Detection of radio emission from pulsars: A pulsar observation primer.- The experimental determination of the limiting spin period of neutron stars.- Radio pulsar population properties.- Energetic young radio pulsars.- Young neutron stars in supernova remnants.- Gamma-ray emission from CGRO pulsars.- Time averaged pulse phase resolved spectra of the Vela pulsar measured by COMPTEL at Me V energies.- New views of the Vela pulsar jet.- Kinematics of low-mass X-ray binaries and millisecond pulsars.- Unusual increase in the 325 MHz flux density ofPSR B0655+64.- High-energy emission from binary pulsars.- Relativistic winds and jets.- Pulsar electrodynamics, atoms in strong magnetic fields.- 4. X-ray binaries.- Neutron stars and black holes in X-ray binaries.- KiloHertz quasi periodic oscillations in low-mass X-ray binaries.- Long-term behavior of accretion powered pulsars.- GRO J1744-28: the bursting pulsar.- The 59 second X-ray pulsars.- First results from a systematic search for new X-ray pulsators in ROSAT PSPC fields.- Thermonuclear burning on rapidly accreting neutron stars.- Results from the PDS experiment aboard the BeppoSAX satellite.- The astrophysical key source SS 433.- High-energy emission from accreting neutron stars.- 5. Evolution of binaries with compact components.- Coalescing binary neutron stars.- Modelling gamma-ray bursts.- The effects of kick velocities on the formation of low-mass X-ray binaries.- Transients and the evolution oflow-mass X-ray binaries.- An evolutionary picture for short orbital period millisecond binary pulsars.- 6. X rays from single neutron stars.- On the X-ray emission properties of rotation powered pulsars.- Thermal evolution of isolated neutron stars.- Evolution of thermal structure and radiation spectrum of cooling neutron stars.- Atomic ionization and opacities in pulsar atmospheres: Hydrogen atmospheres.- The observability of old neutron stars accreting the interstellar medium.- Search for old neutron stars in molecular clouds: Cygnus rift and Cygnus OB7.- Author Index.- Object Index.