On the magnetic field of the ultraluminous X-ray pulsar M82 X-2

Abstract

The discovery of the ultraluminous X-ray pulsar M82 X-2 has stimulated lively discussion on the nature of the accreting neutron star. In most of the previous studies the magnetic field of the neutron star was derived from the observed spin-up/down rates based on the standard thin, magnetized accretion disk model. However, under super-Eddington accretion the inner part of the accretion disk becomes geometrically thick. In this work we consider both radiation feedback from the neutron star and the sub-Keplerian rotation in a thick disk, and calculate the magnetic moment - mass accretion rate relations for the measured rates of spin change. We find that the derived neutron star's dipole magnetic field depends the maximum accretion rate adopted, but is likely $\lesssim 10^{13}$ G. The predicted accretion rate change can be used to test the proposed models by comparison with observations.