Neutron stars are the most compact astronomical objects in the universe which are accessible by direct observation. Studying neutron stars means studying physics in regimes unattainable in any terrestrial laboratory.

Understanding their observed complex phenomena requires a wide range of scientific disciplines, including the nuclear and condensed matter physics of very dense matter in neutron star interiors, plasma physics and quantum electrodynamics of magnetospheres, and the relativistic magneto-hydrodynamics of electron-positron pulsar winds interacting with some ambient medium. Not to mention the test bed neutron stars provide for general relativity theories, and their importance as potential sources of gravitational waves. It is this variety of disciplines which, among others, makes neutron star research so fascinating, not only for those who have been working in the field for many years but also for students and young scientists.

The aim of this book is to serve as a reference work which not only reviews the progress made since the early days of pulsar astronomy, but especially focuses on questions such as: "What have we learned about the subject and how did we learn it?", "What are the most important open questions in this area?" and "What new tools, telescopes, observations, and calculations are needed to answer these questions?".

All authors who have contributed to this book have devoted a significant part of their scientific careers to exploring the nature of neutron stars and understanding pulsars. Everyone has paid special attention to writing educational comprehensive review articles with the needs of beginners, students and young scientists as potential readers in mind. This book will be a valuable source of information for these groups.

Contenu
Radio Pulsar Statistics.- Radio Emission Properties of Pulsars.- Rotating Radio Transients.- Intermittent Pulsars.- The Double Pulsar: A Unique Lab for Relativistic Plasma Physics and Tests of General Relativity.- X-Ray Emission from Pulsars and Neutron Stars.- Isolated Neutron Stars: The Challenge of Simplicity.- Millisecond Pulsars in Globular Clusters and the Field.- Theory of Radiative Transfer in Neutron Star Atmospheres and Its Applications.- Neutron Star Interiors and the Equation of State of Superdense Matter.- Neutron Star Cooling: I.- Neutron Star Cooling: II.- Turning Points in the Evolution of Isolated Neutron Stars'Magnetic Fields.- Pulsar Spin, Magnetic Fields, and Glitches.- Pulsar Emission: Where to Go.- The Theory of Pulsar Winds and Nebulae.- Implications of HESS Observations of Pulsar.- High Energy Emission from Pulsars and Pulsar Wind Nebulae.- High-energy Emission from the Polar Cap and Slot Gap.- Physics of Drifting Sub-pulses in Radio Pulsars.- Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters and Magnetars.- X-Ray Polarimetry and Its Potential Use for Understanding Neutron Stars.- GeV Gamma-Ray Pulsar Detection.- Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars.