Neutron stars in X-ray pulsars and their magnetic fields

Abstract

Estimates of the magnetic field of neutron stars in X-ray pulsars are obtained using the hypothesis of the equilibrium period for disk and wind accretion and also from the BATSE data on timing of X-ray pulsars using the observed maximum spin-down rate. Cyclotron lines at energies $\ge 100$ keV in several Be-transient are predicted for future observations. We suggest a new method of estimating distances to X-ray pulsars and their magnetic fields. Using observations of fluxes and period variations in the model of disk accretion one can estimate the magnetic momentum of a neutron star and the distance to X-ray pulsar. As an illustration the method is applied to the system GROJ1008-57.

arXiv comment6 pages including 2 PostScript figures. To be published in the proceedings of "COSMION-99" conference