What will eROSITA reveal among X-ray faint isolated neutron stars?

Abstract

Since the discovery of the first radio pulsar fifty years ago, the population of neutron stars in our Galaxy has grown to over 2,600. A handful of these sources, exclusively seen in X-rays, show properties that are not observed in normal pulsars. Despite their scarcity, they are key to understanding aspects of the neutron star phenomenology and evolution. The forthcoming all-sky survey of eROSITA will unveil the X-ray faint end of the neutron star population at unprecedented sensitivity; therefore, it has the unique potential to constrain evolutionary models and advance our understanding of the sources that are especially silent in the radio and $\gamma$-ray regimes. In this contribution I discuss the expected role of eROSITA, and the challenges it will face, at probing the galactic neutron star population.

arXiv comment4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in the proceedings of "IAUS 337: Pulsar Astrophysics - The Next 50 Years" eds: P. Weltevrede, B.B.P. Perera, L. Levin Preston & S. Sanidas