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arXiv · 0705.3186

Dissipation of magnetic fields in neutron star crusts due to development of a tearing mode

Maxim Lyutikov
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Abstract

Dissipation of magnetic fields in Hall plasma of neutron star crusts may power persistent high energy emission of a class of strongly magnetized neutrons stars, magnetars. We consider development of a dissipative tearing mode in Hall plasma (electron MHD) and find that its growth rate increases with the wave number of perturbations, reaching a maximum value intermediate between resistive $τ_r$ and Hall times $τ_H$, $Γ\sim 1 / \sqrt{τ_r τ_H}$. We argue that the tearing mode may be the principal mechanism by which strong magnetic fields are dissipated in magnetars on times scale of $\sim 10^4-10^5$ yrs powering the persistent X-ray emisison.

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Maxim Lyutikov. 2007-05-22. Dissipation of magnetic fields in neutron star crusts due to development of a tearing mode. https://arxiv.org/abs/0705.3186

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