The presence of superfluid phases in the interior of a neutron star affects its dynamics, as neutrons can flow relative to the non-superfluid (normal) components of the star with little or no viscosity. A probe of superfluidity comes from pulsar glitches, sudden jumps in the observed rotational period of radio pulsars. Most models of glitches build on the idea that a superfluid component of the star is decoupled from the spin-down of the normal component, and its sudden re-coupling leads to a glitch. This transition in the strength of the hydrodynamic coupling is explained in terms of quantum vortices (long-lived vortices that are naturally present in the neutron superfluid at the microscopic scale). After introducing some basic ideas, we derive (as a pedagogical exercise) the formal scheme shared by many glitch studies. Then, we apply these notions to present some recent advances and discuss how observations can help us to indirectly probe the internal physics of neutron stars.
Insights Into the Physics of Neutron Star Interiors from Pulsar Glitches / M. Antonelli, A. Montoli, P.M. Pizzochero - In: Astrophysics in the XXI Century with Compact Stars / [a cura di] C.A.Z. Vasconcellos, F. Weber. - [s.l] : World scientific, 2022. - ISBN 978-981-12-2093-7. - pp. 219-281 [10.1142/9789811220944_0007]
Insights Into the Physics of Neutron Star Interiors from Pulsar Glitches
M. Antonelli;A. Montoli;P.M. Pizzochero
2022
Abstract
The presence of superfluid phases in the interior of a neutron star affects its dynamics, as neutrons can flow relative to the non-superfluid (normal) components of the star with little or no viscosity. A probe of superfluidity comes from pulsar glitches, sudden jumps in the observed rotational period of radio pulsars. Most models of glitches build on the idea that a superfluid component of the star is decoupled from the spin-down of the normal component, and its sudden re-coupling leads to a glitch. This transition in the strength of the hydrodynamic coupling is explained in terms of quantum vortices (long-lived vortices that are naturally present in the neutron superfluid at the microscopic scale). After introducing some basic ideas, we derive (as a pedagogical exercise) the formal scheme shared by many glitch studies. Then, we apply these notions to present some recent advances and discuss how observations can help us to indirectly probe the internal physics of neutron stars.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
libro_glitches_august_2022_PRD_template (1).pdf
accesso riservato
Tipologia:
Pre-print (manoscritto inviato all'editore)
Dimensione
2.85 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
2.85 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
Pubblicazioni consigliate
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.