1998/12/31 by S. B. Popov, D. Yu. Konenkov
Physics and Astronomy · #astro-ph
published as Izvestiya VUZov "Radiofizika" V.41 P.28-35 (1998) (English translation: Radiophysics and quantum electronics) Reported at Volga-97 summer school · 9 pages, 3 PostScript figures
arxiv created 1998/12/31 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
We studied possible evolution of the rotational period and the magnetic field of the X-ray source RX J0720.4-3125 assuming this source to be an isolated neutron star accreting from the interstellar medium. Magnetic field of the source is estimated to be 106 - 109 Gs (most probably ≈ 2⋅ 108 Gs), and it is difficult to explain the observable rotational period 8.38 s without invoking hypothesis of the magnetic field decay. We used the model of ohmic decay of the crustal magnetic field. The estimates of the accretion rate (10-14 - 10-16 M_\odot/yr), velocity of the source relative to the interstellar medium (10 - 50 km/s), the neutron star age (2⋅ 109 - 1010 yrs) are obtained.