Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star Cores
Using a phenomenological Ginzburg–Landau model that includes entrainment, we identify the possible ground states for the neutron and proton condensates in the core of a neutron star, as a function of magnetic field strength. Combining analytical and numerical techniques, we find that much of the out...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Universe |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/4/228 |
| _version_ | 1797434140147056640 |
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| author | Toby S. Wood Vanessa Graber |
| author_facet | Toby S. Wood Vanessa Graber |
| author_sort | Toby S. Wood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Using a phenomenological Ginzburg–Landau model that includes entrainment, we identify the possible ground states for the neutron and proton condensates in the core of a neutron star, as a function of magnetic field strength. Combining analytical and numerical techniques, we find that much of the outer core is likely to be a “type-1.5” superconductor (instead of a type-II superconductor as often assumed), in which magnetic flux is distributed inhomogeneously, with bundles of magnetic fluxtubes separated by flux-free Meissner regions. We provide an approximate criterion to determine the transition between this type-1.5 phase and the type-I region in the inner core. We also show that bundles of fluxtubes can coexist with non-superconducting regions, but only in a small part of the parameter space. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:27:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-340f8fd89ae6447aa215ebf9f164671b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:27:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-340f8fd89ae6447aa215ebf9f164671b2023-12-01T21:30:00ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972022-04-018422810.3390/universe8040228Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star CoresToby S. Wood0Vanessa Graber1School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKInstitute of Space Sciences (ICE-CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Barcelona, SpainUsing a phenomenological Ginzburg–Landau model that includes entrainment, we identify the possible ground states for the neutron and proton condensates in the core of a neutron star, as a function of magnetic field strength. Combining analytical and numerical techniques, we find that much of the outer core is likely to be a “type-1.5” superconductor (instead of a type-II superconductor as often assumed), in which magnetic flux is distributed inhomogeneously, with bundles of magnetic fluxtubes separated by flux-free Meissner regions. We provide an approximate criterion to determine the transition between this type-1.5 phase and the type-I region in the inner core. We also show that bundles of fluxtubes can coexist with non-superconducting regions, but only in a small part of the parameter space.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/4/228neutron starssuperconductivitysuperfluidity |
| spellingShingle | Toby S. Wood Vanessa Graber Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star Cores Universe neutron stars superconductivity superfluidity |
| title | Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star Cores |
| title_full | Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star Cores |
| title_fullStr | Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star Cores |
| title_full_unstemmed | Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star Cores |
| title_short | Superconducting Phases in Neutron Star Cores |
| title_sort | superconducting phases in neutron star cores |
| topic | neutron stars superconductivity superfluidity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/4/228 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tobyswood superconductingphasesinneutronstarcores AT vanessagraber superconductingphasesinneutronstarcores |