Hall drift of axisymmetric magnetic fields in solid neutron-star matter

Details Hall drift of axisymmetric magnetic fields in solid neutron-star matter Hall drift of axisymmetric magnetic fields in solid neutron-star matter

2007-05-14

arxiv.org/abs/0705.1901v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

8 pages, 5 figure panels; new version with very small correction; accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics

Scientific paper

10.1051/0004-6361:20077874

Hall drift, i. e., transport of magnetic flux by the moving electrons giving rise to the electrical current, may be the dominant effect causing the evolution of the magnetic field in the solid crust of neutron stars. It is a nonlinear process that, despite a number of efforts, is still not fully understood. We use the Hall induction equation in axial symmetry to obtain some general properties of nonevolving fields, as well as analyzing the evolution of purely toroidal fields, their poloidal perturbations, and current-free, purely poloidal fields. We also analyze energy conservation in Hall instabilities and write down a variational principle for Hall equilibria. We show that the evolution of any toroidal magnetic field can be described by Burgers' equation, as previously found in plane-parallel geometry. It leads to sharp current sheets that dissipate on the Hall time scale, yielding a stationary field configuration that depends on a single, suitably defined coordinate. This field, however, is unstable to poloidal perturbations, which grow as their field lines are stretched by the background electron flow, as in instabilities earlier found numerically. On the other hand, current-free poloidal configurations are stable and could represent a long-lived crustal field supported by currents in the fluid stellar core.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Hall drift of axisymmetric magnetic fields in solid neutron-star matter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Hall drift of axisymmetric magnetic fields in solid neutron-star matter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hall drift of axisymmetric magnetic fields in solid neutron-star matter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-365644