The Braking Index of Millisecond Magnetars

Paul D. Lasky; Cristiano Leris; Antonia Rowlinson; Kostas Glampedakis

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa79a7

The Braking Index of Millisecond Magnetars

Paul D. Lasky, Cristiano Leris, Antonia Rowlinson, Kostas Glampedakis

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We make the first measurement of the braking index n of two putative millisecond magnetars born in short gamma-ray bursts. We measure n = 2.9 ± 0.1 and n 2.6 ± 0.1 for millisecond magnetars born in GRB 130603B and GRB 140903A, respectively. The neutron star born in GRB 130603B has the only known a braking index consistent with the fiducial n = 3 value. This value is ruled out with 99.95% confidence for GRB 140903A. We discuss possible causes of n < 3braking indices in millisecond magnetars, showing that several models can account for the measurement of the braking index in GRB 140903A, while it is more difficult to account for a braking index consistent with n = 3.

Original language	English
Article number	L1
Number of pages	6
Journal	The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	843
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa79a7
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2017

Keywords

gamma-ray burst: individual (GRB 130603B, GRB 140903A)
stars: magnetars
stars: neutron

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10.3847/2041-8213/aa79a7

51977873-oaFinal published version, 553 KB

Cite this

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title = "The Braking Index of Millisecond Magnetars",

abstract = "We make the first measurement of the braking index n of two putative millisecond magnetars born in short gamma-ray bursts. We measure n = 2.9 ± 0.1 and n 2.6 ± 0.1 for millisecond magnetars born in GRB 130603B and GRB 140903A, respectively. The neutron star born in GRB 130603B has the only known a braking index consistent with the fiducial n = 3 value. This value is ruled out with 99.95% confidence for GRB 140903A. We discuss possible causes of n < 3braking indices in millisecond magnetars, showing that several models can account for the measurement of the braking index in GRB 140903A, while it is more difficult to account for a braking index consistent with n = 3.",

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AU - Lasky, Paul D.

AU - Leris, Cristiano

AU - Rowlinson, Antonia

AU - Glampedakis, Kostas

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The Braking Index of Millisecond Magnetars

Abstract

Keywords

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Extreme astrophysics in the age of gravitational waves

ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery

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The Braking Index of Millisecond Magnetars

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Projects

Extreme astrophysics in the age of gravitational waves

ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery

Cite this