Accretion torque on magnetized neutron stars

Department of Astronomy, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China e-mail: [hldai;lixd]@nju.edu.cn

Received: 27 July 2005
Accepted: 20 December 2005

Abstract

The conventional picture of disk accretion onto magnetized neutron stars has been challenged by the spin changes observed in a few X-ray pulsars, and by theoretical results from numerical simulations of disk-magnetized star interactions. These indicate possible accretion during the propeller regime and the spin-down torque increasing with the accretion rate. Here we present a model for the accretion torque exerted by the disk on a magnetized neutron star, assuming accretion continues even for rapid rotators. The accretion torque is shown to have some different characteristics from that in the conventional model, but in accord with observations and numerical calculations of accretion-powered magnetized neutron stars. We also discuss its possible applications to the spin evolution in X-ray pulsars.