X-ray pulsars: a review

Abstract

Accreting X-ray pulsars are among the most luminous objects in the X-ray sky. In highly magnetized neutron stars (B~10^12 G), the flow of matter is dominated by the strong magnetic field. The general properties of accreting X-ray binaries are presented, focusing on the spectral characteristics of the systems. The use of cyclotron lines as a tool to directly measure a neutron star's magnetic field and to test the theory of accretion are discussed. We conclude with the current and future prospects for accreting X-ray binary studies.

8 pages, 7 figures, Frascati Workshop 2011, "Multifrequency Behaviour of High Energy Cosmic Sources", Vulcano 23-28 May 2011, published in Mem. SAIt