Magnetic Axis Drift and Magnetic Spot Formation in Neutron Stars with Toroidal Fields

Understand

We explore magnetic field configurations that lead to the formation of magnetic spots on the surface of neutron stars, and to the displacement of the magnetic dipole axis.

• We find that a toroidally dominated magnetic field is essential for the generation of a single spot with a strong magnetic field.
• Once a spot forms, it survives for several million years, even after the total magnetic field has decayed significantly.
• We find that the dipole axis is not stationary with respect to the neutron star's surface and does not in general coincide with the location of the magnetic spot.