Rapid rotational crust-core relaxation in magnetars
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the rapid crust-core coupling is incompatible with oscillation models of magnetars that completely decouple the core superfluid from the crust and that magnetar precession is damped by the coupling of normal fluids to the superfluid core and, if observed, needs to be forced or continuously excited by seismic activity.
Abstract: If a magnetar interior B -field exceeds 1015 G, it will unpair the proton superconductor in the stellar core by inducing diamagnetic currents that destroy the Cooper pair coherence. Then, the P -wave neutron superfluid in these non-superconducting regions will couple to the stellar plasma by scattering of protons off the quasiparticles that are confined in the cores of neutron vortices by the strong (nuclear) force. The dynamical timescales associated with this interaction span from several minutes at the crust-core interface to a few seconds in the deep core. We show that (a) the rapid crust-core coupling is incompatible with oscillation models of magnetars that completely decouple the core superfluid from the crust and (b) magnetar precession is damped by the coupling of normal fluids to the superfluid core and, if observed, needs to be forced or continuously excited by seismic activity.
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01 Jan 2018
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on applications of the ideas of superconductivity in neutron stars in a broader context, ranging from the microphysics of pairing in nucleonic superfluids to macroscopic manifestations of superfluidity in pulsars.
Abstract: This review focuses on applications of the ideas of superfluidity and superconductivity in neutron stars in a broader context, ranging from the microphysics of pairing in nucleonic superfluids to macroscopic manifestations of superfluidity in pulsars. The exposition of the basics of pairing, vorticity and mutual friction can serve as an introduction to the subject. We also review some topics of recent interest, including the various types of pinning of vortices, glitches, and oscillations in neutron stars containing superfluid phases of baryonic matter.
91 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide an overview of these developments, compare and contrast the mathematical descriptions of laboratory condensates and neutron stars and summarize the current experimental state-of-the-art.
Abstract: Neutron stars are astrophysical laboratories of many extremes of physics. Their rich phenomenology provides insights into the state and composition of matter at densities which cannot be reached in terrestrial experiments. Since the core of a mature neutron star is expected to be dominated by superfluid and superconducting components, observations also probe the dynamics of large-scale quantum condensates. The testing and understanding of the relevant theory tend to focus on the interface between the astrophysics phenomenology and nuclear physics. The connections with low-temperature experiments tend to be ignored. However, there has been dramatic progress in understanding laboratory condensates (from the different phases of superfluid helium to the entire range of superconductors and cold atom condensates). In this review, we provide an overview of these developments, compare and contrast the mathematical descriptions of laboratory condensates and neutron stars and summarize the current experimental state-of-the-art. This discussion suggests novel ways that we may make progress in understanding neutron star physics using low-temperature laboratory experiments.
53 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on applications of the ideas of superconductivity in neutron stars in a broader context, ranging from the microphysics of pairing in nucleonic superfluids to macroscopic manifestations of superfluidity in pulsars.
Abstract: This review focuses on applications of the ideas of superfluidity and superconductivity in neutron stars in a broader context, ranging from the microphysics of pairing in nucleonic superfluids to macroscopic manifestations of superfluidity in pulsars. The exposition of the basics of pairing, vorticity and mutual friction can serve as an introduction to the subject. We also review some topics of recent interest, including the various types of pinning of vortices, glitches, and oscillations in neutron stars containing superfluid phases of baryonic matter.
22 citations
13 Oct 2020
TL;DR: In this article, a new equation of state for the baryonic matter under an intense magnetic field was constructed within the framework of covariant density functional theory, where the composition of matter includes hyperons as well as Δ-resonances.
Abstract: We construct a new equation of state for the baryonic matter under an intense magnetic field within the framework of covariant density functional theory. The composition of matter includes hyperons as well as Δ-resonances. The extension of the nucleonic functional to the hypernuclear sector is constrained by the experimental data on Λ and Ξ-hypernuclei. We find that the equation of state stiffens with the inclusion of the magnetic field, which increases the maximum mass of neutron star compared to the non-magnetic case. In addition, the strangeness fraction in the matter is enhanced. Several observables, like the Dirac effective mass, particle abundances, etc. show typical oscillatory behavior as a function of the magnetic field and/or density which is traced back to the occupation pattern of Landau levels.
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, torsional oscillations of highly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) were discussed using two-dimensional, magneto-elastic-hydrodynamical simulations.
Abstract: We discuss torsional oscillations of highly magnetised neutron stars (magnetars) using two-dimensional, magneto-elastic-hydrodynamical simulations. Our model is able to explain both the low- and high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in magnetars. The analysis of these oscillations provides constraints on the breakout magnetic-field strength, on the fundamental QPO frequency, and on the frequency of a particularly excited overtone. More importantly, we show how to use this information to generically constraint properties of high-density matter in neutron stars, employing Bayesian analysis. In spite of current uncertainties and computational approximations, our model-dependent Bayesian posterior estimates for SGR 1806-20 yield a magnetic-field strength $\bar B\sim 2.1^{+1.3}_{-1.0}\times10^{15}\,$G and a crust thickness of $\Delta r = 1.6^{+0.7}_{-0.6}$ km, which are both in remarkable agreement with observational and theoretical expectations, respectively (1-$\sigma$ error bars are indicated). Our posteriors also favour the presence of a superfluid phase in the core, a relatively low stellar compactness, $M/R 1.4\times10^8\,$cm/s. Although the procedure laid out here still has large uncertainties, these constraints could become tighter when additional observations become available.
21 citations
References
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Book•
01 Jan 1975
TL;DR: In this article, a revised version of the book has been published to incorporate the many new developments in superconductivity, including new topics on high temperature superconductors and nonequilibrium superconductivities.
Abstract: Appropriate for intermediate or advanced courses in superconductivity, this edition has been revised to incorporate the many new developments in superconductivity. Expanded topic coverage includes new chapters on high temperature superconductors and nonequilibrium superconductivity.
7,800 citations
TL;DR: A comprehensive overview of magnetar research, in which the observational results are discussed in the light of the most up-to-date theoretical models and their implications address the more fundamental issue of how physics in strong magnetic fields can be constrained by the observations of these unique sources.
Abstract: Magnetars are the strongest magnets in the present universe and the combination of extreme magnetic field, gravity and density makes them unique laboratories to probe current physical theories (from quantum electrodynamics to general relativity) in the strong field limit. Magnetars are observed as peculiar, burst-active x-ray pulsars, the anomalous x-ray pulsars (AXPs) and the soft gamma repeaters (SGRs); the latter emitted also three 'giant flares', extremely powerful events during which luminosities can reach up to 10(47) erg s(-1) for about one second. The last five years have witnessed an explosion in magnetar research which has led, among other things, to the discovery of transient, or 'outbursting', and 'low-field' magnetars. Substantial progress has been made also on the theoretical side. Quite detailed models for explaining the magnetars' persistent x-ray emission, the properties of the bursts, the flux evolution in transient sources have been developed and confronted with observations. New insight on neutron star asteroseismology has been gained through improved models of magnetar oscillations. The long-debated issue of magnetic field decay in neutron stars has been addressed, and its importance recognized in relation to the evolution of magnetars and to the links among magnetars and other families of isolated neutron stars. The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview in which the observational results are discussed in the light of the most up-to-date theoretical models and their implications. This addresses not only the particular case of magnetar sources, but the more fundamental issue of how physics in strong magnetic fields can be constrained by the observations of these unique sources.
390 citations
TL;DR: A comprehensive overview of magnetar observations can be found in this article, where the most up-to-date theoretical models and their implications are discussed in the light of the observations.
Abstract: Magnetars are the strongest magnets in the present universe and the combination of extreme magnetic field, gravity and density makes them unique laboratories to probe current physical theories (from quantum electrodynamics to general relativity) in the strong field limit. Magnetars are observed as peculiar, burst--active X-ray pulsars, the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) and the Soft Gamma Repeaters (SGRs); the latter emitted also three "giant flares," extremely powerful events during which luminosities can reach up to 10^47 erg/s for about one second. The last five years have witnessed an explosion in magnetar research which has led, among other things, to the discovery of transient, or "outbursting," and "low-field" magnetars. Substantial progress has been made also on the theoretical side. Quite detailed models for explaining the magnetars' persistent X-ray emission, the properties of the bursts, the flux evolution in transient sources have been developed and confronted with observations. New insight on neutron star asteroseismology has been gained through improved models of magnetar oscillations. The long-debated issue of magnetic field decay in neutron stars has been addressed, and its importance recognized in relation to the evolution of magnetars and to the links among magnetars and other families of isolated neutron stars. The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive overview in which the observational results are discussed in the light of the most up-to-date theoretical models and their implications. This addresses not only the particular case of magnetar sources, but the more fundamental issue of how physics in strong magnetic fields can be constrained by the observations of these unique sources.
371 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the observed properties of the persistent emission from magnetars, discuss the main models proposed to explain the origin of their magnetic field and present recent developments in the study of their evolution and connection with other classes of neutron stars.
Abstract: Magnetars are neutron stars in which a strong magnetic field is the main energy source. About two dozens of magnetars, plus several candidates, are currently known in our Galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds. They appear as highly variable X-ray sources and, in some cases, also as radio and/or optical pulsars. Their spin periods (2–12 s) and spin-down rates (∼10−13–10−10 s s−1) indicate external dipole fields of ∼1013−15 G, and there is evidence that even stronger magnetic fields are present inside the star and in non-dipolar magnetospheric components. Here we review the observed properties of the persistent emission from magnetars, discuss the main models proposed to explain the origin of their magnetic field and present recent developments in the study of their evolution and connection with other classes of neutron stars.
194 citations