0000000000040619
AUTHOR
V. Urpin
Joule heating and the thermal evolution of old neutron stars
We consider Joule heating caused by dissipation of the magnetic field in the neutron star crust. This mechanism may be efficient in maintaining a relatively high surface temperature in very old neutron stars. Calculations of the thermal evolution show that, at the late evolutionary stage ($t \geq 10$ Myr), the luminosity of the neutron star is approximately equal to the energy released due to the field dissipation and is practically independent of the atmosphere models. At this stage, the surface temperature can be of the order of $3 \times 10^{4} - 10^{5}$K. Joule heating can maintain this high temperature during extremely long time ($\geq 100$ Myr), comparable with the decay time of the m…
Convection in the Surface Layers of Neutron Stars
During some phases of a neutron star's evolution, the temperature gradient in the surface layers, calculated assuming only radiative and conductive transport, may exceed the adiabatic gradient. This superadiabatic gradient is the necessary (but not sufficient) condition for convective instability. The present paper examines the sufficiency condition for the onset of convection in neutron stars in the presence of a strong magnetic field. It is shown that the large fields typically found in neutron stars—about 1011 to 1013 G—stabilize the atmosphere against convection. Convective instability can arise only in neutron stars with very weak magnetic fields, ≤108-109 G. Convective motions in such…
Stability analysis of relativistic jets from collapsars and its implications on the short-term variability of gamma-ray bursts
We consider the transverse structure and stability properties of relativistic jets formed in the course of the collapse of a massive progenitor. Our numerical simulations show the presence of a strong shear in the bulk velocity of such jets. This shear can be responsible for a very rapid shear--driven instability that arises for any velocity profile. This conclusion has been confirmed both by numerical simulations and theoretical analysis. The instability leads to rapid fluctuations of the main hydrodynamical parameters (density, pressure, Lorentz factor, etc.). However, the perturbations of the density are effectively decoupled from those of the pressure because the beam of the jet is radi…
Instability of relativistic sheared jets and distinction between FRI and FRII sources
We investigate the shear-driven instability of nonmagnetic relativistic jets with the bulk velocity, V , dependent on the cylindric radius, r. It is shown that instability can arise for any dependence of the velocity (or the Lorentz factor that is the same) on r. The shear-driven instability can e ectively operate in the whole volume of a jet. The growth time can be shorter than that of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The considered instability leads to a turbulization of jets and can account for a distiction between the jets in the FRI and FRII sources. Urpin, V., Vadim.Urpin@uv.es
Convective instability in proto-neutron stars
The linear hydrodynamic stability of proto-neutron stars (PNSs) is considered taking into account dissipative processes such as neutrino transport and viscosity. We obtain the general instability criteria which differ essentially from the well-known Ledoux criterion used in previous studies. We apply the criteria to evolutive models of PNSs that, in general, can be subject to the various known regimes such as neutron fingers and convective instabilities. Our results indicate that the fingers instability arises in a more extended region of the stellar volume and lasts a longer time than expected.