Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2009-10-26
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
9 pages, 8 figs. Accepted to ApJ
Scientific paper
Magnetars are young neutron stars with extreme magnetic fields (B > 10^{14}-10^{15}G). How these fields relate to the properties of their progenitor stars is not yet clearly established. However, from the few objects associated with young clusters it has been possible to estimate the initial masses of the progenitors, with results indicating that a very massive progenitor star (M_prog >40Msun) is required to produce a magnetar. Here we present adaptive-optics assisted Keck/NIRC2 imaging and Keck/NIRSPEC spectroscopy of the cluster associated with the magnetar SGR 1900+14, and report that the initial progenitor star mass of the magnetar was a factor of two lower than this limit, M_prog=17 \pm 2 Msun. Our result presents a strong challenge to the concept that magnetars can only result from very massive progenitors. Instead, we favour a mechanism which is dependent on more than just initial stellar mass for the production of these extreme magnetic fields, such as the "fossil-field" model or a process involving close binary evolution.
Davies Ben
Figer Don F.
Kouveliotou Chryssa
Kudritzki Rolf Peter
Trombley Christine
No associations
LandOfFree
The progenitor mass of the magnetar SGR1900+14 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The progenitor mass of the magnetar SGR1900+14, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The progenitor mass of the magnetar SGR1900+14 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-562736