Magnetar Mysteries: Tales of Two Radio Transients

Magnetars, highly magnetized neutron stars, are responsible for the most energetic transient events observed in the Milky Way. Their extreme magnetic environments enable exotic quantum processes, such as spontaneous photon splitting and photo-magnetic electron-positron pair production, providing unique avenues for testing fundamental physics under conditions not reproducible elsewhere in the universe.

In this talk, I will examine two distinct classes of radio transients thought to be associated with magnetars: the recently discovered galactic Long Period Transients, and extragalactic Fast Radio Bursts. I will present the observational evidence supporting the magnetar hypothesis, discuss current theoretical models explaining how magnetars might produce these phenomena, and outline the implications for our broader understanding of neutron stars and transient astronomy. I will conclude with the prospects for future research and discoveries in this rapidly evolving area of astrophysics.

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