r-Mode runaway and rapidly rotating neutron stars

Andersson, Nils, Jones, David Ian, Kokkotas, Kostas D. and Stergioulas, Nikolaos (2000) r-Mode runaway and rapidly rotating neutron stars. Astrophysical Journal, 534, L75-L78.

Abstract

We present a simple spin-evolution model that predicts that rapidly rotating accreting neutron stars will be confined mainly to a narrow range of spin frequencies: P = 1.5–5 ms. This is in agreement with current observations of neutron stars in both the low-mass X-ray binaries and the millisecond radio pulsars. The main ingredients in the model are (1) the instability of r-modes above a critical spin rate, (2) the thermal runaway that is due to the heat released as viscous damping mechanisms counteract the r-mode growth, and (3) a revised estimate of the strength of the dissipation that is due to the presence of a viscous boundary layer at the base of the crust in an old and relatively cold neutron star. We discuss the gravitational waves that are radiated during the brief r-mode–driven spin-down phase. We also briefly touch on how the new estimates affect the predicted initial spin periods of hot young neutron stars.

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Contributors

Author: Nils Andersson

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