2011MNRAS.415.1590O

Soft γ-ray repeaters (SGRs) and anomalous X-ray pulsars are believed to be magnetars, i.e. neutron stars powered by extreme magnetic fields, B∼ 10¹⁴-10¹⁵ G. The recent discovery of an SGR with low magnetic field (<7.5 {x} 10¹² G), SGR 0418+5729, which shows bursts similar to those of SGRs, implies that a high surface dipolar magnetic field might not be necessary for magnetar-like activity. We show that the quiescent and bursting properties of SGR 0418+5729 find natural explanations in the context of low magnetic field Quark-Nova (detonative transition from a neutron star to a quark star) remnants, i.e. an old quark star surrounded by degenerate (iron-rich) Keplerian ring/debris ejected during the Quark-Nova explosion. We find that a 16 Myr old quark star surrounded by an ∼10^–10 M_☉ring, extending in radius from ∼30 to 60 km, reproduces many observed properties of SGR 0418+5729. The SGR-like burst is caused by magnetic penetration of the inner part of the ring and subsequent accretion. Radiation feedback results in months long accretion from the ring's non-degenerate atmosphere which matches well the observed decay phase. We make specific predictions (such as an accretion glitch of ΔP/P∼-2 {x} 10^–11 during burst and a sub-keV proton cyclotron line from the ring) that can be tested by sensitive observations.