A new look at Anomalous X-ray Pulsars

G. S. Bisnovatyi-Kogan, N. R. Ikhsanov

Published 2014-01-12, updated 2014-07-25Version 2

We explore a possibility to explain the phenomenon of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXP) and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGR) within the scenario of fall-back magnetic accretion onto a young isolated neutron star. The X-ray emission of the pulsar in this case is originated due to accretion of matter onto the surface of the neutron star from the magnetic slab surrounding its magnetosphere. The expected spin-down rate of the neutron star within this approach is close to the observed value. We show that these neutron stars are relatively young and are going through a transition from the propeller state to the accretor state. The pulsars activity in the gamma-rays is connected with their relative youth and is provided by the energy stored in the non-equilibrium layer located in the crust of low-mass neutron stars. This energy can be released due to mixing of matter in the neutron star crust with super heavy nuclei approaching its surface and getting unstable. The nuclei fission in the low-density region initiates chain reactions leading to the nuclear explosion. The outbursts are likely to be triggered by an instability developing in the region where the matter accreted by the neutron star is accumulated at the magnetic pole regions.