Dynamics in neutron stars and the early universe
"Observations of pulsar timing suggest that glitches and post-glitch behavior are due to variable coupling between the superfluid and normal components in neutron stars. A rotating superfluid is threaded by quantized vortex lines which, in the inner crust of a neutron star, can pin to the nuclear lattice that coexists with the superfluid. The dynamics of the superfluid is described by the motion of these lines. Vortices overcome their pinning barriers through thermal activation or quantum tunneling, and ""creep"" slowly outward under forces created by the superfluid flow. To the extent that vortices remain pinned, the superfluid retains its angular momentum as the crust slows through interactions with its environment. Catastrophic unpinning of vortices could lead to sudden dissipative coupling between the superfluid and the crust thus creating glitches, while post-glitch relaxation is likely due to the recovery of the vortex creep rate to the steady state."
Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Physics, Condensed Matter, Physics, Elementary Particles and High Energy
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign