Magnetars, the most magnetized neutron stars in the universe, present
a fascinating but yet enigmatic population. Their birth rates,
evolutionary paths, and connection to the broader neutron star
population remain open questions in astrophysics. In this talk, I will
explore recent insights into magnetar formation rates, their relation
to core-collapse supernovae, and their presence in...
Magnetars, isolated neutron stars powered mainly by magnetic energy, are characterized by variability spanning a broad interval in dynamic range and duration, from short bursts of a few milliseconds to outbursts lasting several months or even years. The most extreme variability events are the giant flares, which can be observed also from magnetars at extragalactic distances (farther than...
I will present a comprehensive analysis of all known magnetar outbursts observed up until 2018. This study utilizes over 1000 X-ray observations from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, supplemented by a hundred observations from Chandra, XMM-Newton, and other observatories. By tracking the temporal evolution of soft X-ray spectral properties and luminosities, and by empirically modeling light...
With 20 years of nearly continuous sky observation Swift has enabled studies of objects from several different classes. Among these, I will focus on the impulsive behavior of magnetars and the long-term evolution of pulsating ultra-luminous X-ray sources (PULXs). Magnetars are neutron stars powered by their intense magnetic fields, often identified by their emission of powerful X-ray...
