arXiv subjects

N. Andersson

Publications and source records attributed to N. Andersson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

r-modes and mutual friction in rapidly rotating superfluid neutron stars

We develop a new perturbative framework for studying the r-modes of rotating superfluid neutron stars. Our analysis accounts for the centrifugal deformation of the star, and considers the two-fluid dynamics at linear order in the perturbed velocities. Our main focus is on a simple model system where the total density profile is that of an $n=1$ polytrope. We derive a partially analytic solution for the superfluid analogue of the classical r-mode. This solution is used to analyse the relevance of the vortex mediated mutual friction damping, confirming that this dissipation mechanism is unlikely to suppress the gravitational-wave driven instability in rapidly spinning superfluid neutron stars. Our calculation of the superfluid r-modes is significantly simpler than previous approaches, because it decouples the r-mode from all other inertial modes of the system. This leads to the results being clearer, but it also means that we cannot comment on the relevance of potential avoided crossings (and associated "resonances") that may occur for particular parameter values. Our analysis of the mutual friction damping differs from previous studies in two important ways. Firstly, we incorporate realistic pairing gaps which means that the regions of superfluidity in the star's core vary with temperature. Secondly, we allow the mutual friction parameters to take the whole range of permissible values rather than focussing on a particular mechanism. Thus, we consider not only the weak drag regime, but also the strong drag regime where the fluid dynamics is significantly different.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

On the oscillations of dissipative superfluid neutron stars

We investigate the oscillations of slowly rotating superfluid stars, taking into account the vortex mediated mutual friction force that is expected to be the main damping mechanism in mature neutron star cores. Working to linear order in the rotation of the star, we consider both the fundamental f-modes and the inertial r-modes. In the case of the (polar) f-modes, we work out an analytic approximation of the mode which allows us to write down a closed expression for the mutual friction damping timescale. The analytic result is in good agreement with previous numerical results obtained using an energy integral argument. We extend previous work by considering the full range of permissible values for the vortex drag, e.g. the friction between each individual vortex and the electron fluid. This leads to the first ever results for the f-mode in the strong drag regime. Our estimates provide useful insight into the dependence on, and relevance of, various equation of state parameters. In the case of the (axial) r-modes, we confirm the existence of two classes of modes. However, we demonstrate that only one of these sets remains purely axial in more realistic neutron star models. Our analysis lays the foundation for companion studies of the mutual friction damping of the r-modes at second order in the slow-rotation approximation, the first time evolutions for superfluid neutron star perturbations and also the first detailed attempt at studying the dynamics of superfluid neutron stars with both a relative rotation between the components and mutual friction.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Superfluid signatures in magnetar seismology

We investigate the role of neutron star superfluidity for magnetar oscillations. Using a plane-wave analysis we estimate the effects of a neutron superfluid in the elastic crust region. We demonstrate that the superfluid imprint is likely to be more significant than the effects of the crustal magnetic field. We also consider the region immediately beneath the crust, where superfluid neutrons are thought to coexist with a type II proton superconductor. Since the magnetic field in the latter is carried by an array of fluxtubes, the dynamics of this region differs from standard magnetohydrodynamics. We show that the presence of the neutron superfluid (again) leaves a clear imprint on the oscillations of the system. Taken together, our estimates show that the superfluid components cannot be ignored in efforts to carry out "magnetar seismology". This increases the level of complexity of the modelling problem, but also points to the possibility of using observations to probe the superfluid nature of supranuclear matter.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

A hydrodynamical trigger mechanism for pulsar glitches

The standard explanation for large pulsar glitches involves transfer of angular momentum from an internal superfluid component to the star's crust. This model requires an instability to trigger the sudden unpinning of the vortices by means of which the superfluid rotates. This Letter describes a new instability that may play this role. The instability, which is associated with the inertial r-modes of a superfluid neutron star, sets in once the rotational lag in the system reaches a critical level. We demonstrate that our model is in good agreement with observed glitch data, suggesting that the superfluid r-mode instability may indeed be the mechanism that triggers large pulsar glitches.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Are neutron stars with crystalline colour superconducting cores interesting for the LIGO experiment?

We estimate the maximal deformation that can be sustained by a rotating neutron star with a crystalline colour superconducting quark core. Our results suggest that current gravitational-wave data from LIGO have already reached the level where a detection would have been possible over a wide range of the poorly constrained QCD parameters. This leads to the non-trivial conclusion that compact objects \emph{do not} contain maximally strained colour crystalline cores drawn from this range of parameter space. We discuss the uncertainties associated with our simple model and how it can be improved in the future.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Do superfluid instabilities prevent neutron star precession?

We discuss short wavelength (inertial wave) instabilities present in the standard two-fluid neutron star model when there is sufficient relative flow along the superfluid neutron vortex array. We demonstrate that these instabilities may be triggered in precessing neutron stars, since the angular velocity vectors of the neutron and proton fluids are misaligned during precession. The presence of such an instability would render the standard, solid body rotation, model for free precession inconsistent. Our results suggest that the standard (Eulerian) slow precession that results for weak drag between the vortices and the charged fluid (protons and electrons) is not seriously constrained by the existence of the instability. In contrast, the fast precession, which results when vortices are strongly coupled to the charged component, is generally unstable. This implies that fast precession may not be realised in astrophysical systems

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Oscillations of General Relativistic Multi-fluid/Multi-layer Compact Stars

We develop the formalism for determining the quasinormal modes of general relativistic multi-fluid compact stars in such a way that the impact of superfluid gap data can be assessed. Our results represent the first attempt to study true multi-layer dynamics, an important step towards considering realistic superfluid/superconducting compact stars. We combine a relativistic model for entrainment with model equations of state that explicity incorporate the symmetry energy. Our analysis emphasises the many different parameters that are required for this kind of modelling, and the fact that standard tabulated equations of state are grossly incomplete in this respect. To make progress, future equations of state need to provide the energy density as a function of the various nucleon number densities, the temperature (i.e. entropy), and the entrainment among the various components.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

On the stability of precessing superfluid neutron stars

We discuss a new superfluid instability occuring in the interior of mature neutron stars with implications for freely precessing neutron stars. This short-wavelength instability is similar to the instability which is responsible for the formation of turbulence in superfluid Helium. Its existence raises serious questions about our understanding of neutron star precession and complicates attempts to constrain neutron star interiors using such observations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Waves and instabilities in dissipative rotating superfluid neutron stars

We discuss wave propagation in rotating superfluid neutron star cores, taking into account the vortex mediated mutual friction force. For models where the two fluids co-rotate in the unperturbed state, our analysis clarifies the role of chemical coupling and entrainment for sound and inertial waves. We also investigate the mutual friction damping, providing results that demonstrate the well-known fact that sound waves propagating along a vortex array are undamped. We show that the same is not true for inertial waves, which are damped by the mutual friction regardless of the propagation direction. We then include the vortex tension, which arises due to local vortex curvature. Focussing on purely transverse inertial waves, we derive the small correction that the tension induces in the wave frequency. Finally, we allow for a relative linear flow in the background (along the rotation axis). In this case we show how the mutual friction coupling may induce a dynamical instability in the inertial waves. We discuss the critical flow required for the instability to be present, its physical interpretation and the possible relevance it may have for neutron star physics.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Modelling magnetically deformed neutron stars

Rotating deformed neutron stars are important potential sources for groundbased gravitational-wave interferometers such as LIGO, GE0600 and VIRGO. One mechanism that may lead to significant non-asymmetries is the internal magnetic field. It is well known that a magnetic star will not be spherical and, if the magnetic axis is not aligned with the spin axis, the deformation will lead to the emission of gravitational waves. The aim of this paper is to develop a formalism that would allow us to model magnetically deformed stars, using both realistic equations of state and field configurations. As a first step, we consider a set of simplified model problems. Focusing on dipolar fields, we determine the internal magnetic field which is consistent with a given neutron star model. We then calculate the associated deformation. We conclude by discussing the relevance of our results for current gravitational-wave detectors and future prospects.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Superfluid neutron star turbulence

We analyse the implications of superfluid turbulence for neutron star physics. We begin by extending our previous results for the mutual friction force for a straight vortex array to account for the self-induced flow which arises when the vortices are curved. We then discuss Vinen's phenomenological model for isotropic turbulence, and derive the associated (Gorter-Mellink) form for the mutual friction. We compare this derivation to a more recent analysis of Schwarz, which sheds light on various involved issues. Having discussed isotropic turbulence, we argue that this case is unlikely to be relevant for neutron stars. Instead we expect a rotating neutron star to exhibit polarised turbulence, where relative flow drives the turbulence and rotation counteracts it. Based on recent results for superfluid Helium, we construct a phenomenological model that should have the key features of such a polarised turbulent system.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Temperature-dependent pulsations of superfluid neutron stars

We examine radial oscillations of superfluid neutron stars at finite internal temperatures. For this purpose we generalize the description of relativistic superfluid hydrodynamics to the case of superfluid mixtures. We show that in a neutron star at hydrostatic and beta-equilibrium the red-shifted temperature gradient is smoothed out by neutron superfluidity (but not by proton superfluidity). We calculate radial oscillation modes of neutron stars assuming "frozen" nuclear composition in the pulsating matter. The resulting pulsation frequencies show a strong temperature dependence in the temperature range (0.1-1) T_cn, where T_cn is the critical temperature of neutron superfluidity. Combining our results with thermal evolution, we obtain a significant evolution of the pulsation spectrum, associated with highly efficient Cooper pairing neutrino emission, for 20 years after superfluidity onset.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Modelling the dynamics of superfluid neutron stars

In this brief summary I describe our recent work on superfluid neutron star dynamics. I review results on shear viscosity, hyperon bulk viscosity, vortex mediated mutual friction and the modelling of multifluid systems in general. For each problem I provide a set of questions that need to be addressed by future work.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Mountains on Neutron Stars: Accreted vs. Non-Accreted crusts

The aim of this paper is to compare the two cases of an isolated neutron star, with a non-accreted crust, and that of an accreting neutron star, with an accreted crust, and try to estimate which one of the two would make a better source of gravitational waves. In order to do this we must evaluate the maximum ``mountain'' that the crust can sustain in these two cases. We first do this using the formalism of Ushomirsky, Cutler and Bildsten (2000) and find that the maximum quadrupole is very similar in the two cases, with the non-accreted crust sustaining a slightly larger mountain. We then develop a perturbation formalism for the problem, that allows us to drop the Cowling approximation and have more control over the boundaries. The use of this formalism confirms that there is not much difference between the two cases, but leads to results approximately one order of magnitude larger than those we obtain with the formalism of Ushomirsky, Cutler and Bildsten (2000).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Crust-core coupling in rotating neutron stars

Motivated by their gravitational-wave driven instability, we investigate the influence of the crust on r-mode oscillations in a neutron star. Using a simplistic model of an elastic neutron star crust with constant shear modulus, we carry out an analytic calculation with the main objective of deriving an expression for the ``slippage'' between the core and the crust. Our analytic estimates support previous numerical results, and provide useful insights into the details of the problem.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Relativistic Fluid Dynamics: Physics for Many Different Scales

The relativistic fluid is a highly successful model used to describe the dynamics of many-particle, relativistic systems. It takes as input basic physics from microscopic scales and yields as output predictions of bulk, macroscopic motion. By inverting the process, an understanding of bulk features can lead to insight into physics on the microscopic scale. Relativistic fluids have been used to model systems as ``small'' as heavy ions in collisions, and as large as the universe itself, with ``intermediate'' sized objects like neutron stars being considered along the way. The purpose of this review is to discuss the mathematical and theoretical physics underpinnings of the relativistic (multiple) fluid model. We focus on the variational principle approach championed by Brandon Carter and his collaborators, in which a crucial element is to distinguish the momenta that are conjugate to the particle number density currents. This approach differs from the ``standard'' text-book derivation of the equations of motion from the divergence of the stress-energy tensor, in that one explicitly obtains the relativistic Euler equation as an ``integrability'' condition on the relativistic vorticity. We discuss the conservation laws and the equations of motion in detail, and provide a number of (in our opinion) interesting and relevant applications of the general theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Mutual Friction in Superfluid Neutron Stars

We discuss vortex-mediated mutual friction in the two-fluid model for superfluid neutron star cores. Our discussion is based on the general formalism developed by Carter and collaborators, which makes due distinction between transport velocity and momentum for each fluid. This is essential for an implementation of the so-called entrainment effect, whereby the flow of one fluid imparts momentum in the other and vice versa. The mutual friction follows by balancing the Magnus force that acts on the quantised neutron vortices with a resistive force due to the scattering of electrons off of the magnetic field with which each vortex core is endowed. We derive the form of the macroscopic mutual friction force which is relevant for a model based on smooth-averaging over a collection of vortices. We discuss the coefficients that enter the expression for this force, and the timescale on which the two interpenetrating fluids in a neutron star core are coupled. This discussion confirms that our new formulation accords well with previous work in this area.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Modelling the spin equilibrium of neutron stars in LMXBs without gravitational radiation

In this paper we discuss the spin-equilibrium of accreting neutron stars in LMXBs. We demonstrate that, when combined with a naive spin-up torque, the observed data leads to inferred magnetic fields which are at variance with those of galactic millisecond radiopulsars. This indicates the need for either additional spin-down torques (eg. gravitational radiation) or an improved accretion model. We show that a simple consistent accretion model can be arrived at by accounting for radiation pressure in rapidly accreting systems (above a few percent of the Eddington accretion rate). In our model the inner disk region is thick and significantly sub-Keplerian, and the estimated equilibrium periods are such that the LMXB neutron stars have properties that accord well with the galactic millisecond radiopulsar sample. The implications for future gravitational-wave observations are also discussed briefly.

astro-ph↗