A. T. Deller, F. Camilo, J. E. Reynolds, J. P. Halpern
The formation mechanism of neutron stars with extremely large magnetic field
strengths (magnetars) remains unclear. Some formation scenarios predict that
magnetars should be born with extremely high space velocities, >1000 km/s.
Using the Long Baseline Array in Australia, we have measured the proper motion
of the intermittently radio-bright magnetar J1550-5418 (1E 1547.0-5408) to be
9.2 +/- 0.6 mas/yr. For a likely distance of 6 +/- 2 kpc, the implied
transverse velocity is 260 +/- 90 km/s. Along with the ~200 km/s transverse
velocity measured for the magnetar XTE J1810-197, this result suggests that
formation pathways producing large magnetic fields do not require very large
birth kicks.
View original:
http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.4684
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