Central compact objects in magnetic lethargy

Abstract

Central Compact Objects are peculiar young neutron stars, with very low external magnetic fields combined with high fluxes in the X-ray band and surface temperature anisotropies. However, in their crust the magnetic field can be strong, result of its burial during a short post-supernova hypercritical accretion episode. The implications of this latter scenario for the temperature anisotropy, pulsed fraction and luminosity are discussed.