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Studies of neutron stars at optical/IR wavelengths

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Abstract

In the last years, optical studies of Isolated Neutron Stars (INSs) have expanded from the more classical rotation-powered ones to other categories, like the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) and the Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs), which make up the class of the magnetars, the radio-quiet INSs with X-ray thermal emission and, more recently, the enigmatic Compact Central Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants. Apart from 10 rotation-powered pulsars, so far optical/IR counterparts have been found for 5 magnetars and for 4 INSs. In this work we present some of the latest observational results obtained from optical/IR observations of different types of INSs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MSSL-UCL, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, RH56NT, UK

    R. P. Mignani & S. Zane

  2. ESO, A. de Cordova 3107, Vitacura, Santiago, 19001, Chile

    S. Bagnulo & G. Lo Curto

  3. INAF-IASF, Via Bassini 15, 20133, Milan, Italy

    A. De Luca

  4. INAF-OAR, Via di Frascati 33, 00040, Monte Porzio, Italy

    G. L. Israel

  5. OAS, rue de l’Université 11, 67000, Strasbourg, France

    C. Motch

  6. University of Colorado, 440 UCB, Boulder, 80309, USA

    R. Perna

  7. SRON, Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584, CA, Utrecht, Netherlands

    N. Rea

  8. Universitá di Padova, via Marzolo 8, I-35131, Padova, Italy

    R. Turolla

Authors
  1. R. P. Mignani
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  2. S. Bagnulo
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  3. A. De Luca
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  4. G. L. Israel
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  5. G. Lo Curto
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  7. R. Perna
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  8. N. Rea
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  9. R. Turolla
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  10. S. Zane
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Correspondence to R. P. Mignani.

Additional information

Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA, Inc. under contract No NAS 5-26555.

Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Paranal, Chile under programme ID 63.P-0002(A), 71.C-0189(A)72.C-0051(A), 074.C-0596(A), 074.D-0729(A), 075.D-0333(A), 076.D-0613(A).

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Mignani, R.P., Bagnulo, S., De Luca, A. et al. Studies of neutron stars at optical/IR wavelengths. Astrophys Space Sci 308, 203–210 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-007-9340-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-007-9340-z

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