Millisecond Magnetars

TL;DR

This paper reviews the role of millisecond magnetars, neutron stars with extremely strong magnetic fields and rapid spins, in various high-energy astrophysical phenomena such as gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, gravitational waves, and fast radio bursts.

Contribution

It summarizes current understanding and scenarios where millisecond magnetars are key players in astrophysical events, highlighting their formation and energetic impacts.

Findings

Magnetars have magnetic fields of 10^{15}-10^{16} G.

They can rapidly convert rotational energy into electromagnetic and gravitational waves.

Millisecond magnetars are linked to phenomena like GRBs, supernovae, and FRBs.

Abstract

Two classes of X-ray/$\gamma$-ray sources, the Soft Gamma Repeaters and the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars have been identified with isolated, slowly spinning magnetars, neutron stars whose emission draws energy from their extremely strong magnetic field ($\sim 10^{15}-10^{16}$ G). Magnetars are believed to form with millisecond spin period and to represent an important fraction of the whole population of young neutron stars. Newborn magnetars can convert very quickly their rotational energy into electromagnetic and/or gravitational waves, by virtue of their strong magnetic fields and fast spins. This chapter provides a brief summary of astrophysical problems and scenarios in which millisecond magnetars are believed to play a key role: these include Gamma Ray Bursts, Supernovae, Gravitational Wave events and Fast Radio Bursts.