Atmospheres and radiating surfaces of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields

A. Y. Potekhin; W. C. G. Ho; G. Chabrier

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arXiv · 1605.01281

Atmospheres and radiating surfaces of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields

A. Y. Potekhin·W. C. G. Ho·G. Chabrier

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Abstract

We review the current status of the theory of thermal emission from the surface layers of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields $B\sim 10^{10}-10^{15}$ G, including formation of the spectrum in a partially ionized atmosphere and at a condensed surface. In particular, we describe recent progress in modeling partially ionized atmospheres of central compact objects in supernova remnants, which may have moderately strong fields $B\sim 10^{10}-10^{11}$ G. Special attention is given to polarization of thermal radiation emitted by a neutron star surface. Finally, we briefly describe applications of the theory to observations of thermally emitting isolated neutron stars.

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A. Y. Potekhin, W. C. G. Ho, G. Chabrier. 2016-05-04. Atmospheres and radiating surfaces of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields. https://arxiv.org/abs/1605.01281

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