Central compact objects and their magnetic fields

Abstract

Central compact objects (CCOs) are neutron stars that are found near the center of supernova remnants, and their association with supernova remnants indicates these neutron stars are young (<~ 10^4 yr). Here we review the observational properties of CCOs and discuss implications, especially their inferred magnetic fields. X-ray timing and spectral measurements suggest CCOs have relatively weak surface magnetic fields (~ 10^10 - 10^11 G). We argue that, rather than being created with intrinsically weak fields, CCOs are born with strong fields and we are only seeing a weak surface field that is transitory and evolving. This could imply that CCOs are one manifestation in a unified picture of neutron stars.