Magnetic Field-Decay-Induced Electron Captures: a Strong Heat Source in Magnetar Crusts

Details Magnetic Field-Decay-Induced Electron Captures: a Strong Heat Source in Magnetar Crusts Magnetic Field-Decay-Induced Electron Captures: a Strong Heat Source in Magnetar Crusts

2009-10-14

arxiv.org/abs/0910.2466v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

4 pages, 2 figures, minor improvements, results and conclusions unchanged; accepted by ApJL

Scientific paper

We propose a new heating mechanism in magnetar crusts. Magnetars' crustal magnetic fields are much stronger than their surface fields; therefore, magnetic pressure partially supports the crust against gravity. The crust loses magnetic pressure support as the field decays and must compensate by increasing the electron degeneracy pressure; the accompanying increase in the electron Fermi energy induces nonequilibrium, exothermic electron captures. The total heat released via field-decay electron captures is comparable to the total magnetic energy in the crust. Thus, field-decay electron captures are an important, if not the primary, mechanism powering magnetars' soft X-ray emission.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Magnetic Field-Decay-Induced Electron Captures: a Strong Heat Source in Magnetar Crusts 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 Magnetic Field-Decay-Induced Electron Captures: a Strong Heat Source in Magnetar Crusts, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Magnetic Field-Decay-Induced Electron Captures: a Strong Heat Source in Magnetar Crusts will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-18323