Dim isolated neutron stars, cooling and energy dissipation

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10509-007-9376-0

The cooling and reheating histories of dim isolated neutron stars (DINs) are discussed. Energy dissipation due to dipole spindown with ordinary and magnetar fields, and due to torques from a fallback disk are considered as alternative sources of reheating which would set the temperature of the neutron star after the initial cooling era. Cooling or thermal ages are related to the numbers and formation rates of the DINs and therefore to their relations with other isolated neutron star populations. The possibility of energy dissipation at ages greater than about 10(6) yrs is a potentially important factor in determining the properties of the DIN population. Interaction with a fallback disk, higher multipole fields and activity of the neutron star are briefly discussed.