We present precise localizations of AXP 1E1841−045 and SGR 1627−41 with Chandra. We obtained new infrared observations of SGR 1627−41 and reanalyzed archival observations of AXP 1E1841−045 in order to refine their positions and search for infrared counterparts. A faint source is detected inside the error circle of AXP 1E1841−045. In the case of SGR 1627−41, several sources are located within th...

A great deal of evidence has recently been gathered in favor of the picture that Soft Gamma Repeaters and Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars are powered by ultra-strong magnetic fields (B> 1014 G; i.e. magnetars). Nevertheless, present determination of the magnetic field in such magnetar candidates has been indirect and model dependent. A key prediction concerning magnetars is the detection of ion cyclotr...

On 2004 Dec. 27, a giant γ-ray flare was detected from the magnetar SGR 1806–20. A radio observation seven days later revealed an expanding radio nebula at this position. Here we present results from an on-going monitoring campaign of this source with the Australia Telescope Compact Array and Very Large Array. These data indicate that there was an increase in the observed flux ∼25 days after th...

The recent discovery of high frequency oscillations in giant flares from SGR 1806-20 and SGR 1900+14 may be the first direct detection of vibrations in a neutron star crust. If this interpretation is correct it offers a novel means of testing the neutron star equation of state, crustal breaking strain, and magnetic field configuration. Using timing data from RHESSI, we have confirmed the detect...

Thanks to INTEGRAL’s long exposures of the Galactic Plane, the two brightest Soft Gamma-Ray Repeaters, SGR 1806-20 and SGR 1900+14, have been monitored and studied in detail for the first time at hard-X/softgamma rays. SGR 1806-20, lying close to the Galactic Centre, and being very active in the past two years, has provided a wealth of new INTEGRAL results, which we will summarise here: more th...

We present statistics of SGR 1806-20 bursts, combining 290 events detected with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer/Proportional Counter Array, 111 events detected with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment, and 134 events detected with the International Cometary Explorer. We find that the fluence distribution of bursts observed with each instrument are well described by power laws with indices...

Erich Schneider und Uwe Müller (Hg.): Spurensuche, 1806- 2006. 200 Jahre Pfarrei Heilig Geist, Katholiken in Schweinfurt (Veröffentlichungen des Stadtarchivs 22). 334 S., zahlreiche Abb.

I review some recent developments in our understanding of the environments of soft gamma-ray repeaters. I pay particular attention to the apparent association betwwen SGR 1900+14 and SGR 1806-20 and embedded clusters of stars.