Are AXPs/SGRs magnetars?

TL;DR

This paper questions the existence of magnetars by analyzing observational data that contradict the traditional magnetic field and energy emission models of AXPs/SGRs, suggesting alternative explanations for their luminosity.

Contribution

It challenges the magnetar model by presenting observational inconsistencies and proposing that the magnetic field may not be the sole energy source for AXPs/SGRs.

Findings

X-ray luminosity of PSR J1852+0040 exceeds rotational energy loss without a super strong magnetic field.

Radio pulsars with higher magnetic fields still derive energy from rotation, unlike some AXPs/SGRs.

Some magnetars emit normal radio pulses, blurring the distinction between pulsars and magnetars.

Abstract

Anomalous X-ray Pulsars and Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters have been generally recognized as neutron stars with super strong magnetic fields, namely "magnetars". The "magnetars" manifest that the luminosity in X-ray band are larger than the rotational energy loss rate, i.e. $L_{X}>\dot {E}_{\rm rot}$, and then the radiation energy is coming from the energy of magnetic field. Here it is argued that magnetars may not really exist. Some X-ray and radio observational results are contradicted with the magnetar model. (1) The X-ray luminosity of PSR J1852+0040 is much larger than the rotational energy loss rate ($L_{X}/\dot {E}_{\rm rot}\simeq 18)$, but the magnetic field is just $3.1\times 10^{11}$ G. Does this X-ray radiation energy come from the magnetic field? (2) In contrast to the above, the magnetic fields of radio pulsars J1847-0130 and PSR J1718-3718 are higher than that of AXP 1E 2259+586, why is the radiation energy of those two radio pulsars still coming from rotational energy? Furthermore, the magnetic field of the newly discovered SGR 0418+5729 with the lowest magnetic field is 3.0 e13 G, lower than the critical magnetic field $B_{\rm C}=4.414$ e13 G) (Esposito et al. 2010). (3) Some "magnetars" also emit normal transient radio pulses, what is the essential difference between radio pulsars and the "magnetars"? The observational fact arguments will be presented at first, then we discuss in what situation the conventional method to obtain magnetic field could not be correct.