VLBI Astrometry of Magnetars

arXiv:2606.29671 · astro-ph.HE, astro-ph.SR · Submitted 2026-06-29 · Read on arXiv

Takuya Akahori, Sujin Eie, Kei Amada, Sangita Kumari, Kohei Kurahara, Hiroto Masaoka, Hao Ding, Teruaki Enoto, Shota Kisaka, Keiichi Maeda, Kotaro Niinuma

astro-ph.HE, astro-ph.SR

Submitted: 2026-06-29

Comments: Published in Advancing Astrophysics with the SKA II (AASKAII), 2026 (arXiv:2606.20366). Report-no:AASKAII/Akahori02

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

The gist: The origin of the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe, i.e., the origin of magnetars, is a longstanding question.

Terminology

Abstract

The origin of the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe, i.e., the origin of magnetars, is a longstanding question. An enhanced dynamo effect in an irregular supernova explosion is a possible origin, which implies a stronger kick velocity and a higher proper motion of the magnetar compared to those of ordinary pulsars as well as an irregular morphology of the host supernova remnant (SNR). However, this hypothesis is not well studied yet, because there is a lack of precise measurement of the proper motion of magnetar and of identification of the host SNR. VLBI astrometry of magnetars is a unique tool to examine the hypothesis. In this chapter, we introduce the MONSTER (Monitoring Observations of the Neutron Stars That Evolve Rapidly) Project. SKA-VLBI's unprecedented sensitivity and the highest angular resolution will allow us to dramatically expand the survey volume in which we can measure the proper motion of magnetars within a radio outburst period of a few months.

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