"中子星"研究的挑战

脉冲星(PSRs)被发现之后,很快地就被证认为中子星(NSs),关于它们的研究极大地丰富了人们对于自然的认识.由于第一颗射电脉冲星的发现以及对强引力场下广义相对论的检验,脉冲星研究者已经两次获得了诺贝尔物理学奖.最近,"中子星"家族中的一些新种类被发现了,它们是:所谓的软伽马射线重复爆(SGRs),反常X射线脉冲星(AXPs),超新星遗迹(SNRs)中的致密中心天体(CCOs)和暗弱热中子星(DTNs).这对理论家们提出了如下的挑战:是否部分或者全部的所谓"中子星"的本质实际上是"奇异星(SSs)"?是否存在所谓的"磁星"(一种具有超强磁场的中子星)?本文论述了"中子星"的观测特性,为理解它们本质所作的理论努力以及不同模型间的争论(尤其是关于SGRs和AXPs).

The Challenges of "Neutron Star" Studies

Pulsars (PSRs) were identified as neutron stars (NSs) soon after their discoveries,the study of which increases significantly our knowledge of nature.The Nobel prizes of physics had awarded pulsar researchers two times for discovering the first radio pulsar and checking the general theory of relativity with strong gravity,respectively.Recently some new breeds in "neutron star" family have been discovered:the so-called Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs),Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs),Compact Central Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants (SNRs) and Dim Thermal Neutron Stars (DTNs).These are challenges for theorists:are some or all of the so-called "neutron stars" actually "strange stars (SSs)" in nature? are there any so-colled "magnetars" (a kind of neutron stars with super-strong magnetic field)? The observed properties of the "neutron stars",the theoretical efforts in understanding their nature,and the debates between different models (especially on SGRs/AXPs) are presented.