How viscous is a superfluid neutron star core?
How viscous is a superfluid neutron star core?
We discuss the effects of superfluidity on the shear viscosity in a neutron star core. Our study combines existing theoretical results for the viscosity coefficients with data for the various superfluid energy gaps into a consistent description. In particular, we provide a simple model for the electron viscosity which is relevant both when the protons form a normal fluid and when they become superconducting. This model explains in a clear way why proton superconductivity leads to a significant strengthening of the shear viscosity. We present our results in a form which permits the use of data for any given modern equation of state (our final formulas are explicitly dependent on the proton fraction). We discuss a simple description of the relevant superfluid pairing gaps, and construct a number of models (spanning the range of current uncertainty) which are then used to discuss the superfluid suppression of shear viscosity. We conclude by a discussion of a number of challenges that must be met if we are to make further progress in this area of research.
212-229
Andersson, N.
2dd6d1ee-cefd-478a-b1ac-e6feedafe304
Glampedakis, K.
bece2036-f721-468e-9cd2-cf4324ff2deb
Comer, G.L.
f2c1746c-8638-4268-94f0-e5d4375f0358
2005
Andersson, N.
2dd6d1ee-cefd-478a-b1ac-e6feedafe304
Glampedakis, K.
bece2036-f721-468e-9cd2-cf4324ff2deb
Comer, G.L.
f2c1746c-8638-4268-94f0-e5d4375f0358
Andersson, N., Glampedakis, K. and Comer, G.L.
(2005)
How viscous is a superfluid neutron star core?
Nuclear Physics A, A763 (0375-947), .
Abstract
We discuss the effects of superfluidity on the shear viscosity in a neutron star core. Our study combines existing theoretical results for the viscosity coefficients with data for the various superfluid energy gaps into a consistent description. In particular, we provide a simple model for the electron viscosity which is relevant both when the protons form a normal fluid and when they become superconducting. This model explains in a clear way why proton superconductivity leads to a significant strengthening of the shear viscosity. We present our results in a form which permits the use of data for any given modern equation of state (our final formulas are explicitly dependent on the proton fraction). We discuss a simple description of the relevant superfluid pairing gaps, and construct a number of models (spanning the range of current uncertainty) which are then used to discuss the superfluid suppression of shear viscosity. We conclude by a discussion of a number of challenges that must be met if we are to make further progress in this area of research.
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Published date: 2005
Additional Information:
Comment: corrected error in the discussion of proton screening + some other minor corrections
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 29464
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/29464
ISSN: 0375-9474
PURE UUID: e037eb41-e30b-43e2-b647-bdeb9ec508d1
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Date deposited: 11 May 2006
Last modified: 09 Jan 2022 02:57
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Author:
K. Glampedakis
Author:
G.L. Comer
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