arXiv subjects

Vesteinn Thorsson

Publications and source records attributed to Vesteinn Thorsson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv1996

Kaon Zero-Point Fluctuations in Neutron Star Matter

We investigate the contribution of zero-point motion, arising from fluctuations in kaon modes, to the ground state properties of neutron star matter containing a Bose condensate of kaons. The zero-point energy is derived via the thermodynamic partition function, by integrating out fluctuations for an arbitrary value of the condensate field. It is shown that the vacuum counterterms of the chiral Lagrangian ensure the cancellation of divergences dependent on $μ$, the charge chemical potential, which may be regarded as an external vector potential. The total grand potential, consisting of the tree-level potential, the zero-point contribution, and the counterterm potential, is extremized to yield a locally charge neutral, beta-equilibrated and minimum energy ground state. In some regions of parameter space we encounter the well-known problem of a complex effective potential. Where the potential is real and solutions can be obtained, the contributions from fluctuations are found to be small in comparison with tree-level contributions.

nucl-th↗

arXiv1996

Effects of Electron Band Structure on Neutrino Pair Bremsstrahlung in Neutron Star Crusts

We calculate the rate of energy emission by bremsstrahlung of neutrino pairs by electrons moving in the crystalline lattice of ions in dense matter in the crust of a neutron star. Since the periodic potential in the solid gives rise to electronic band gaps which can be as large as about 1 MeV, it is necessary in estimating the bremsstrahlung rate at low temperatures to take into account band structure in detail. We find that, in the densest parts of the inner crust of a neutron star, neutrino emission at temperatures of about $2\times 10^9$K or less is much suppressed compared with earlier estimates that treated the electron-lattice interaction perturbatively, and conclude that neutrino pair bremsstrahlung by electrons in the crusts of neutron stars is much less important for neutron star thermal evolution than was previously thought.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1995

In-medium effective chiral lagrangians and the pion mass in nuclear matter

We argue that the effective pion mass in nuclear matter obtained from chiral effective lagrangians is unique and does not depend on off-mass-shell extensions of the pion fields as e.g. the PCAC choice. The effective pion mass in isospin symmetric nuclear matter is predicted to increase slightly with increasing nuclear density, whereas the effective time-like pion decay constant and the magnitude of the density-dependent quark condensate decrease appreciably. The in-medium Gell-Mann-Oakes-Renner relation as well as other in-medium identities are studied in addition. Finally, several constraints on effective lagrangians for the description of the pion propagation in isospin symmetric, isotropic and homogenous nuclear matter are discussed. (Talk presented at the workshop ``Hirschegg '95: Hadrons in Nuclear Matter'', Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, Austria, January 16-21, 1995)

hep-ph↗

arXiv1995

Neutrino Emission from Dense Matter, and Neutron Star Thermal Evolution

A brief review is given of neutrino emission processes in dense matter, with particular emphasis on recent developments. These include direct Urca processes for nucleons and hyperons, which can give rise to rapid energy loss from the stellar core without exotic matter, and the effect of band structure on neutrino bremsstrahlung from electrons in the crust, which results in much lower energy losses by this process than had previously been estimated.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1995

S-wave Meson-Nucleon Interactions and the Meson Mass in Nuclear Matter from Chiral Effective Lagrangians

Chiral effective lagrangians may differ in their prediction of meson-nucleon scattering amplitudes off-meson-mass-shell, but must yield identical S-matrix elements. We argue that the effective meson mass in nuclear matter obtained from chiral effective lagrangians is also unique. Off-mass-shell amplitudes obtained using the PCAC choice of pion field must therefore not be viewed as fundamental constraints on the dynamics, the determination of the effective meson mass in nuclear matter or the possible existence of meson condensates in the ground state of nuclear matter. This hypothesis is borne out by a calculation of the effective mass in two commonly employed formulations of chiral perturbation theory which yield different meson-nucleon scattering amplitudes off-meson-mass-shell.

nucl-th↗

arXiv1993

Neutrino Pair Bremsstrahlung in Neutron Star Crusts: a Reappraisal

We demonstrate that band-structure effects suppress bremsstrahlung of neutrino pairs by electrons in the crusts of neutron stars at temperatures of the order of $5\times 10^9 \,{\rm K}$ and below. Taking this into account, together with the fact that recent work indicates that the masses of neutron star crusts are considerably smaller than previously estimated, we find neutrino pair bremsstrahlung to be much less important for the thermal evolution of neutron stars than earlier calculations suggested.

astro-ph↗