The magnetar crustal magneto‐thermal evolution

Abstract

AbstractMagnetars are a type of pulsars powered by magnetic field energy. Part of the X‐ray luminosities of magnetars in quiescence have a thermal origin and can be fitted by a blackbody spectrum with the surface temperature, much higher than the typical values for rotation‐powered pulsars. The persistent thermal emissions and bursts of magnetars indicate the presence of some internal heat sources in their outer crusts. In this work, we have formulated the energy balance equation and applied it to investigate the thermal evolution in the magnetar crust, taking into account the heating mechanisms of Ohmic decay and electron capture processes. This model can explain the changes in the X‐ray luminosity of the magnetars.