Pairing gap in the inner crust of neutron stars
- Instituto of Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Milano (Italy)
- Univ. of Sevilla (Spain)
The pairing gap in the inner crust of a neutron star can be strongly affected by the presence of heavy nuclei. The effect is commonly estimated in a semiclassical description, using the local density approximation. It was found that the nuclear specific heat can become comparable to the electronic specific heat at certain densities and temperatures. The quantitative result depends critically upon the magnitude of the pairing gap. We therefore decided to assess the validity of the semiclassical approach. This is done by solving the quantal BCS pairing gap equation for neutrons that are confined to the Wigner-Seitz cell that surrounds a heavy nucleus. We performed calculations that are based on the Gogny pairing force. They are feasible for realistic densities of neutrons and heavy nuclei that are expected to be found in the inner crust of neutron stars. The results will be compared to the semiclassical predictions. This work is in progress.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 166474
- Report Number(s):
- ANL--95/14; ON: DE96000985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Specific heat of superfluid matter in the inner crust of neutron stars
Collective excitations in the inner crust of neutron stars: Supergiant resonances
Role of finite nuclei on the pairing gap of the inner crust of neutron stars.
Journal Article
·
Sat Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 1994
· Physical Review, D (Particles Fields); (United States)
·
OSTI ID:7170147
Collective excitations in the inner crust of neutron stars: Supergiant resonances
Journal Article
·
Thu Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 2005
· Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics
·
OSTI ID:20696041
Role of finite nuclei on the pairing gap of the inner crust of neutron stars.
Journal Article
·
Wed Jan 01 23:00:00 EST 1997
· Phys. Lett. B
·
OSTI ID:937922