Magnetars

Ultramagnetized neutron stars or magnetars are magnetically powered neutron stars. Their strong magnetic fields dominate the physical processes in their crusts and their surroundings. The past few years have seen several advances in our theoretical and observational understanding of these objects. In spite of a surfeit of observations, their spectra are still poorly understood. I will discuss the emission from strongly magnetized condensed matter surfaces of neutron stars, recent advances in our expectations of the surface composition of magnetars and a model for the non-thermal emission from these objects.