Quantum vacuum influence on pulsars spindown evolution

Abstract

In this letter, we show that Quantum Vacuum Friction (QVF) resulting from the interaction between the magnetic dipole moment of a pulsar and its induced quantum vacuum magnetic dipole moment should play an important role in how a neutron star's spin period evolves. Taking into account this effect we show that magnetars could be understood as a natural evolution of standard pulsars. In particular, for the Crab pulsar, of which the true age is known, we present the first completely coherent time evolution for its period and braking index. For this pulsar and for the B1509-58 pulsar we also give the predicted values of the current first derivative of the braking index that we compare with existing experimental data. Our prediction provides a very important test to confirm or invalidate QVF.