Disordered Nuclear Pasta, Magnetic Field Decay, and Crust Cooling in Neutron Stars

C. J. Horowitz, D. K. Berry, C. M. Briggs, M. E. Caplan, A. Cumming, and A. S. Schneider
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 031102 – Published 22 January 2015

Abstract

Nuclear pasta, with nonspherical shapes, is expected near the base of the crust in neutron stars. Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of pasta show long lived topological defects that could increase electron scattering and reduce both the thermal and electrical conductivities. We model a possible low-conductivity pasta layer by increasing an impurity parameter Qimp. Predictions of light curves for the low-mass x-ray binary MXB 1659-29, assuming a large Qimp, find continued late time cooling that is consistent with Chandra observations. The electrical and thermal conductivities are likely related. Therefore, observations of late time crust cooling can provide insight on the electrical conductivity and the possible decay of neutron star magnetic fields (assuming these are supported by currents in the crust).

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  • Received 11 October 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.031102

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

C. J. Horowitz1,*, D. K. Berry2, C. M. Briggs1, M. E. Caplan1, A. Cumming3, and A. S. Schneider1

  • 1Department of Physics and Center for the Exploration of Energy and Matter, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
  • 2University Information Technology Services, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, USA
  • 3Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 rue University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2T8, Canada

  • *horowit@indiana.edu

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Vol. 114, Iss. 3 — 23 January 2015

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