On the electrostatic structure of neutron stars

Journal Article · Wed Mar 24 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3382321· OSTI ID:21371323

Rueda, Jorge A; Ruffini, Remo; Xue, S -S ^[1]

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1. University of Rome 'Sapienza', Ple. Aldo Moro 5, I-00185, Rome (Italy)

We consider neutron stars composed by, (1) a core of degenerate neutrons, protons, and electrons above nuclear density; (2) an inner crust of nuclei in a gas of neutrons and electrons; and (3) an outer crust of nuclei in a gas of electrons. We use for the strong interaction model for the baryonic matter in the core an equation of state based on the phenomenological Weizsacker mass formula, and to determine the properties of the inner and the outer crust below nuclear saturation density we adopt the well-known equation of state of Baym-Bethe-Pethick. The integration of the Einstein--Maxwell equations is carried out under the constraints of beta-equilibrium and global charge neutrality. We obtain baryon densities that sharply go to zero at nuclear density and electron densities matching smoothly the electron component of the crust. We show that a family of equilibrium configurations exists fulfilling overall neutrality and characterized by a non-trivial electrodynamical structure at the interface between the core and the crust. We find that the electric field is overcritical and that the thickness of the transition surface-shell separating core and crust is of the order of the electron Compton wavelength.

• OSTI ID: 21371323
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1205, Issue 1; Conference: International conference in honor of Ya.B. Zeldovich's 95. anniversary on the sun, the stars, the Universe and general relativity, Minsk (Belarus), 20-23 Apr 2009; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3382321; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
BARYON-BARYON INTERACTIONS
COMPTON WAVELENGTH
EINSTEIN-MAXWELL EQUATIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
EQUATIONS OF STATE
MASS FORMULAE
NEUTRON STARS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR MATTER
PROTONS
STRONG INTERACTIONS
BARYONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
FERMIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
HADRON-HADRON INTERACTIONS
HADRONS
INTERACTIONS
LEPTONS
MATTER
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
STARS