High magnetic field pulsars with magnetar-like activity

Abstract

To study the origin of magnetars, a unique opportunity is provided by detecting an excess of X-ray thermal radiation of the radio pulsars (rotation powered pulsars) with dipolar magnetic fields as high as magnetars. The excess is probably caused by decay of the magnetic field as seen in magnetars. In order to investigate whether the rotation powered pulsars have the excess flux and the hard-tail component similar to magnetars, we observed PSR J0726-2612 which has a 3.44 s period and a 3 × 10¹³ G inferred dipolar magnetic field, with Suzaku for 44 ks on 2011 November 16-17. We report this observational result. We also compare with other observations and discuss a decaying of the magnetic field for normal radio pulsars.