Are there magnetars in high-mass X-ray binaries?

TL;DR

This study investigates the potential existence of magnetars within high-mass X-ray binaries by simulating neutron star spin evolution and comparing it with observations, suggesting some long-period systems may host magnetars.

Contribution

It introduces a spin evolution model for neutron stars in high-mass X-ray binaries, proposing that some long-period systems could contain magnetars, which is a novel hypothesis.

Findings

Some neutron stars with long spin periods require strong magnetic fields.

Magnetars are likely present in wide-separation high-mass X-ray binaries.

The results support a possible link to fast radio bursts from binary magnetars.

Abstract

Magnetars form a special population of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields and long spin periods. About 30 magnetars and magnetar candidates known currently are probably isolated. But the possibility that magnetars are in binaries hasn't been excluded. In this work, we perform spin evolution of neutron stars with different magnetic fields in wind-fed high-mass X-ray binaries and compare the spin period distribution with observations, aiming to find magnetars in binaries. Our simulation shows that some of the neutron stars, which have long spin periods or in wide-separation systems, need strong magnetic fields to explain their spin evolution. This implies that there are probably magnetars in high-mass X-ray binaries. Moreover, this can further provide a theoretical basis for some unclear astronomical phenomena, such as the possible origin of periodic fast radio bursts from magnetars in binary systems.