Magnetars

Duncan, Robert C. and Christopher Thompson, Magnetars, 366, 111-117 (1996) (ADS)

The cartoon

(click on the image for a larger version)

A classic in cartoon development, this shows magnetic fields in the atmosphere(?) of a "magnetar", a neutron star packing colossal (petagauss) magnetic fields. Other than this factor of 11 decades in field intensity, and maybe a factor of 6 decades in gravity, then, these amazingly bright γ-ray sources could be just like solar flares!

      Note the mild and pleasant pastel colors; see also the Borovsky cartoon for another good example.

Date: 2009 March 06

Update: 2019 November 21