Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-11-05
Astron.Astrophys.412:L33-L36,2003
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
4 pages, 2 figures, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters; language improved, 2nd para of Sect. 3 changed
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361:20034605
There is growing evidence, based on both X-ray and radio observations of isolated neutron stars, that besides the large--scale (dipolar) magnetic field, which determines the pulsar spin--down behaviour, small--scale poloidal field components are present, which have surface strengths one to two orders of magnitude larger than the dipolar component. We argue in this paper that the Hall--effect can be an efficient process in producing such small--scale field structures just above the neutron star surface. It is shown that due to a Hall--drift induced instability, poloidal magnetic field structures can be generated from strong subsurface toroidal fields, which are the result of either a dynamo or a thermoelectric instability acting at early times of a neutron star's life. The geometrical structure of these small--scale surface anomalies of the magnetic field resembles that of some types of ``star--spots''. The magnetic field strength and the length--scales are comparable with values that can be derived from various observations.
Geppert Ulrich
Gil Janusz
Rheinhardt Matthias
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