Category #08-3
 
Magnetars
 
David Eichler
 
Dept.of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva
 
 
Magnetars - neutron stars with ultrastrong magnetic fields - were so identified 10 years ago. The progress of the field, including the more recent development of magnetar seismology, is reviewed. Many different diagnostics indicate that the magnetic fields of magnetars can be as high as 10^15 Gauss, which is enough to qualitatively change quantum electrodynamics.