Probing neutron stars and their environments

Neutron stars are a unique laboratory to probe matter under extreme conditions not available in any terrestrial facilities, now or in the future. Neutron stars can be powered by their rotational, accretion or magnetic energy, and are one of the most powerful sources of electromagnetic radiation starting from the radio to Gamma rays. The emitted radiation interacts dynamically with the environment and produces several observable features, that act as probes to the surrounding medium as well as the geometry of the system powering it. In my talk, I will present several recent results that we have obtained on studying neutron stars and their environments with a special emphasis on our Galactic neighbourhood. These include the abundant high mass X-ray binary pulsars as well as the young rotation-powered pulsars in the Magellanic Clouds. I will also present future prospects in this direction which will enable us to obtain a coherent picture of the neutron star population. The Magellanic Clouds with their low metallicity environments will also provide important clues on the neutron star population in the early universe. The eROSITA mission, which will cover the entire sky in broadband X-rays for the first time will provide a unique opportunity to fulfil this goal and will pave the path to obtaining a coherent picture of the neutron star population.