Soft Gamma Repeaters: New Results and Surprises from Swift, INTEGRAL, and the Interplanetary Network
Abstract
The history and observational properties of the soft gamma repeaters are reviewed. Over the past decades, we have gone from viewing these objects as a special class of cosmic gamma-ray burst, to seeing them as one manifestation of magnetars. There is now a solid body of multi-wavelength observations, as well as some more controversial properties. There are indications that extragalactic giant magnetar flares have been detected. There are still a number of fundamental unanswered questions, which will require better theory, more sensitive observations, and many years to answer.
- Publication:
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Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement
- Pub Date:
- October 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008ChJAS...8..202H
- Keywords:
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- neutron stars;
- magnetars