Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Canuto, V..
A new dispersion relation for an unbounded degenerate electron plasma imbedded in a superstrong magnetic field is derived on the basis of the Canuto-Chiu equation of state. The properties of the various types of waves are discussed for two density regimes of astrophysical interest. Propagation parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field are examined in detail.
Consideration of the question of the solidification of neutron matter under a sufficiently high pressure. Calculations are presented which show that under conditions of pressure and density that typically prevail in the interior of a neutron star a system of strongly interacting baryons minimizes the energy by arranging the constituents in a lattice structure. In addition, observational evidence (regarding pulsar spinups or glitches) is cited which supports the idea of a solid neutron core for heavy neutron stars.
Among the processes that are of primary importance for the thermal history of a neutron star is electron-positron annihilation into neutrinos and photoneutrinos. These processes are computed in the presence of a strong magnetic field typical of neutron stars, and the results are compared with the zero-field case. It is shown that the neutrino luminosity Q(H) is greater than Q(O) for temperatures up to T about equal to 3 x 10 to the 8th power K and densities up to 1,000,000 g/cu cm.
Previously computed rates of energy losses (Petrosian et al., 1967) ignored the presence of strong magnetic fields, hence the change brought in when such a field (about 10 to the 12th to 10 to the 13th power G) is included is studied. The results indicate that for T about 10 to the 8th power K and densities rho of about 10,000 g/cu cm, the presence of a strong H field decreases the energy losses by at the most a factor between 10 and 100 in the region up to rho = 1,000,000 g/cu cm. At higher densities the neutrino emissivities are almost identical.
A possible alternative to the ordinary gas-like computation for nuclear matter is investigated under the assumption that the nucleons are arranged in a lattice. BCC, FCC and HCP structures are investigated. Only HCP shows a minimum in the energy vs. density curve with a modest binding energy of -1.5 MeV. The very low density limit is investigated and sensible results are obtained only if the tensor force decreases with the density. A study of the elastic properties indicates that the previous structures are mechanically unstable against shearing stresses.
The effects of the magnetic field and superfluidity on the cooling of neutron stars during the stage when they can be observed as pulsars are considered. A neutron-star model with a stellar mass of 1.07 solar mass, a radius of 12.33 km, and a central energy density of 7.39 x 10 to the 14th power gauss/cu cm was chosen. It appears that during the earlier periods while the star cools by neutrino emission, surface temperatures are somewhat higher at a given age in the presence of stronger magnetic fields. An interesting result is that most pulsars may be very cold.
A quantum mechanical treatment of an electron plasma in a constant and homogeneous magnetic field is considered, with the aim of (1) defining the range of validity of the magnetoionic theory (2) studying the deviations from this theory, in applications involving high densities, and intense magnetic field. While treating the magnetic field exactly, a perturbation approach in the photon field is used to derive general expressions for the dielectric tensor. Numerical estimates on the range of applicability of the magnetoionic theory are given for the case of the 'one-dimensional' electron gas, where only the lowest Landau level is occupied.
The structure of a hydrogen atom situated in an intense magnetic field is investigaged. Three approaches are employed. An elementary Bohr picture establishes a crucial magnetic field strength, H sub a approximately equal to 5 x 10 to the 9th G. Fields in excess of H sub a are intense in that they are able to modify the characteristic atomic scales of length and binding energy. A second approach solves the Schrodinger equation by a combination of variational methods and perturbation theory. It yields analytic expressions for the wave functions and energy eigenvalues. A third approach determines the energy eigenvalues by reducing the Schrodinger equation to a one-dimensional wave equation, which is then solved numerically. Energy eigenvalues are tabulated for field strengths of 2 x 10 to the 10th G and 2 x 10 to the 12th G. It is found that at 2 x 10 to the 12th G the lowest energy eigenvalue is changed from -13.6 to about -180 eV in agreement with previous variational computations.
A possible mechanism by which extremely strong magnetic fields in neutron stars and white dwarfs could originate involves the existence of thermodynamic equilibrium states (LOFER states) of an electron gas. The essence of the stability theory of a LOFER state is discussed. The extended electronic system considered is in contact with a thermal bath in the presence of an external magnetic field. It is found that it is not necessary to require absolute stability in order to realize a LOFER state in nature.
Cooling rates are calculated for superfluid neutron stars of about one solar mass and 10 km radius, with magnetic fields from zero to about 10 to the 14th power Gauss, when possible internal friction effects are neglected. The results show that most old pulsars are so cold that thermal ionization of surface atoms would be negligible. At an age of a million years and with canonical magnetic fields of 10 to the 12th power Gauss, the estimated stellar surface temperature is several thousand to a hundred thousand degrees. However, if we neglect magnetic fields and superfluid states of nucleons, the same surfaces would be about a million degrees.
Intense magnetic fields in astrophysics, emphasizing flux conservation law and quantum effects
Nuclear soft core potential reproduction by isoscalar vector meson in nonlocal field theory of fireball in high energy cosmic ray collisions
Maserlike pulsar radiation mechanism using Coulomb bremsstrahlung near strong quantizing magnetic field
Quantum mechanical relation for magnetized electron gas in constant magnetic field and thermal equilibrium
Neutrino luminosity in strongly magnetized degenerate relativistic electron gas plasma from URCA energy loss rate calculations
Pulsar radiation beaming due to strong magnetic field, computing Compton scattering and opacity
Longitudinal plasmon decay in strong magnetic field into neutrino-antineutrino pair
Nonrelativistic electron bremsstrahlung in dense plasma with strong magnetic field