Magnetized massive stars as magnetar progenitors

TL;DR

This paper models the core collapse of highly magnetized massive stars, proposing that their magnetic fields can naturally evolve into the ultra-strong fields observed in magnetars without requiring dynamo amplification, supporting a fossil field origin.

Contribution

It introduces a self-similar magnetohydrodynamic model of core collapse that explains magnetar magnetic fields as inherited from progenitors, without needing rapid rotation or dynamo processes.

Findings

Remnant neutron stars have magnetic fields of 10^{14}-10^{15} G.

The model predicts a continuum of magnetic field strengths from pulsars to magnetars.

Surface magnetic fields depend on the progenitor's initial conditions and the self-similar scaling index.

Abstract

The origin of ultra-intense magnetic fields on magnetars is a mystery in modern astrophysics. We model the core collapse dynamics of massive progenitor stars with high surface magnetic fields in the theoretical framework of a self-similar general polytropic magnetofluid under the self-gravity with a quasi-spherical symmetry. With the specification of physical parameters such as mass density, temperature, magnetic field and wind mass loss rate on the progenitor stellar surface and the consideration of a rebound shock breaking through the stellar interior and envelope, we find a remnant compact object (i.e. neutron star) left behind at the centre with a radius of $\sim 10^6$ cm and a mass range of $\sim 1-3$ solar masses. Moreover, we find that surface magnetic fields of such kind of compact objects can be $\sim 10^{14}-10^{15}$ G, consistent with those inferred for magnetars which include soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) and anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs). The magnetic field enhancement factor critically depends on the self-similar scaling index $n$, which also determines the initial density distribution of the massive progenitor. We propose that magnetized massive stars as magnetar progenitors based on the magnetohydrodynamic evolution of the gravitational core collapse and rebound shock. Our physical mechanism, which does not necessarily require ad hoc dynamo amplification within a fast spinning neutron star, favours the `fossil field' scenario of forming magnetars from the strongly magnetized core collapse inside massive progenitor stars. With a range of surface magnetic field strengths over massive progenitor stars, our scenario allows a continuum of magnetic field strengths from pulsars to magnetars.