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I consider the state of play regarding associations of supernova remnants (SNRs) with anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs). The three AXP/SNR associations are convincing, and are consistent with AXPs being young, low-velocity neutron stars. The three SGR/SNR associations are far more likely to be chance superpositions, and rely on SGRs being high velocity (>1000 km s−1) objects. These results imply either that AXPs evolve into SGRs, or that SGRs and AXPs represent different populations of object.

We report preliminary results from our follow-up X-ray and radio study of AX J1845–0258, the 7-s X-ray pulsar whose characteristics are similar to those found for the anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs). We have located a faint X-ray source within the pulsar’s error circle implying a dramatic reduction in flux, however, the source is too faint to provide a confirmation of the expected pulsations. Centered on this X-ray source is a newly discovered supernova remnant, evident in both radio and X-ray emission. This is the third example of an AXP-like object associated with a supernova remnant.

The radio remnant of SN 1987A is now of sufficient flux density that super-resolution is possible at 9 GHz. We present a sequence of images from 1992 to 1996 with a resolution of ≈ 0″.5xb, showing the continuing interaction between the expanding shock front and the surrounding axisymmetric circumstellar material.

We have performed Monte Carlo simulations of the Galactic supernova (SN), supernova remnant (SNR) and pulsar (PSR) populations, and find that even ifeverySN forms a fast-spinning pulsar, the number of shell type remnants which are expected to have an associated pulsar is evenlessthan observed. We conclude that most shell SNRs will not have a detectable pulsar associated with them, and that many claimed associations are merely geometric projection.