  A young neutron star with large spin-down power is expected to be closely
surrounded by an e+/- pair plasma maintained by the conversion of gamma-rays
associated with the star's polar-cap and/or outer-gap accelerators.
Cyclotron-resonance scattering by the e- and e+ within several radii of such
neutron stars prevents direct observations of thermal X-rays from the stellar
surface. Estimates are presented for the parameters of the Planck-like
X-radiation which ultimately diffuses out through this region. Comparisons with
observations, especially of apparent blackbody emission areas as a function of
neutron star age, support the proposition that we are learning about a neutron
star's magnetosphere rather than about its surface from observations of young
neutron star thermal X-rays.
