Do magnetic fields of neutron stars decay

Abstract

Neutron stars in x‐ray binaries have strong magnetic fields, those in old binaries usually weak magnetic fields, but exceptions confute simple explanations. Observational evidence claimed to prove spontaneous field decay in single radio pulsars is found wanting on closer scrutiny. Some detailed properties of the z‐distributions of radio pulsars are described; these may explain the contradictory results of apparently similar population synthesis studies.