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Title: Fast neutrino cooling of nuclear pasta in neutron stars: Molecular dynamics simulations

Journal Article · · Physical Review. C

The direct Urca process of rapid neutrino emission can occur in nonuniform nuclear pasta phases that are expected in the inner crusts of neutron stars. Here, the periodic potential for a nucleon in nuclear pasta allows momentum conservation to be satisfied for direct Urca reactions. We improve on earlier work by modeling a rich variety of pasta phases (gnocchi, waffle, lasagna, and anti-spaghetti) with large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the neutrino luminosity due to direct Urca reactions in nuclear pasta can be 3 to 4 orders of magnitude larger than that from the modified Urca process in the NS core. Thus neutrino radiation from pasta could dominate radiation from the core and this could significantly impact the cooling of neutron stars.

Research Organization:
Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States); Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-87ER40365; SC0018083; SC0019470; PHY-1613708
OSTI ID:
1849969
Journal Information:
Physical Review. C, Vol. 102, Issue 4; ISSN 2469-9985
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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