Constraining the GRB-magnetar model by means of the Galactic pulsar population

Understand

A large fraction of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) displays an X-ray plateau phase within <10^{5} s from the prompt emission, proposed to be powered by the spin-down energy of a rapidly spinning newly born magnetar.

• In this work we use the properties of the Galactic neutron star population to constrain the GRB-magnetar scenario.
• We re-analyze the X-ray plateaus of all Swift GRBs with known redshift, between January 2005 and August 2014.
• From the derived initial magnetic field distribution for the possible magnetars left behind by the GRBs, we study the evolution and properties of a simulated GRB-magnetar population using numerical simulations of magnetic field evolution, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations of Pulsar Population Synthesis in our Galaxy.