From Crab Pulsar to Magnetar?

Abstract

We review the evolution of the Crab pulsar's rotational history during the past 35 years. Representing 3.7% of the pulsar's age, it is possible to estimate the likely development of the magnetic field and characteristic age much better than previously. The increasing magnetic field of this pulsar and of other young pulsars, most dramatically the Vela pulsar, raises the interesting possibility that these objects might evolve into magnetars. We discuss the observational case for such a proposal, but note that the origin of these field enhancements may be associated with glitch activity. However, it is understood no better than the origin of the magnetar fields, but may be one and the same.