关键词: 中子星, 脉冲星, 软伽马射线重复爆, 反常X射线脉冲星, 磁星, 吸积

Abstract: Pulsars (PSRs) were identified as neutron stars (NSs) soon after their discoveries, the study of which increases significantly our knowledge of nature. The Nobel prizes of physics had awarded pulsar researchers two times for discovering the first radio pulsar and checking the general theory of relativity with strong gravity, respectively. Recently some new breeds in "neutron star" family have been disc overed: the so-called Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs), Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs), Compact Central Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants (SNRs) and Dim Thermal Neutron Stars (DTNs). These are challenges for theorists: are some or all of the so-called “neutron stars” actually "strange stars (SSs)" in nature? are there any so-colled "magnetars" (a kind of neutron stars with super-strong magnetic field)? The observed properties of the "neutron stars", the theoretical efforts in understanding their nature, and the debates between different models (especially on SGRs/AXPs) are presented.

Key words: NS, PSR, SGR, AXP, magnetar, accretion