X-ray pulsars: a review

TL;DR

This review discusses the properties, spectral features, and magnetic field measurements of accreting X-ray pulsars, highlighting their significance in understanding neutron star accretion processes and future research directions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of accreting X-ray pulsars, emphasizing the role of cyclotron lines in measuring magnetic fields and testing accretion theories.

Findings

Cyclotron lines enable direct magnetic field measurements.

Spectral characteristics reveal accretion physics.

Future prospects include advanced observational techniques.

Abstract

Accreting X-ray pulsars are among the most luminous objects in the X-ray sky. In highly magnetized neutron stars (B~10^12 G), the flow of matter is dominated by the strong magnetic field. The general properties of accreting X-ray binaries are presented, focusing on the spectral characteristics of the systems. The use of cyclotron lines as a tool to directly measure a neutron star's magnetic field and to test the theory of accretion are discussed. We conclude with the current and future prospects for accreting X-ray binary studies.