Non-equilibrium processes in the crust of an accreting neutron star
Abstract
The composition of the solid crust of an accreting neutron star is vastly different from that corresponding to cold catalyzed matter. Using a model of dense matter, the evolution of a matter element of the crust, undergoing compression due to accretion of matter onto stellar surface is studied. At the temperatures characteristic of the interior of an accreting neutron star, the only nuclear transformations are electron captures, neutron emission and absorption and pycnonuclear fusion. Total heat production rate due to nonequilibrium reactions in neutron star crust turns out to be larger than a typical inward heat flux from the steady hydrogen burning between helium flashes.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- January 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990A&A...227..431H
- Keywords:
-
- Neutron Stars;
- Nuclear Astrophysics;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Stellar Mass Accretion;
- Electron Capture;
- Stellar Composition;
- Stellar Interiors;
- Stellar Structure;
- Astrophysics