2011MNRAS.417.2696P -
Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 417, 2696-2713 (2011/November-2)
Quadrupole moment of a magnetically confined mountain on an accreting neutron star: effect of the equation of state.
PRIYMAK M., MELATOS A. and PAYNE D.J.B.
Abstract (from CDS):
Magnetically confined mountains on accreting neutron stars are promising sources of continuous-wave gravitational radiation and are currently the targets of directed searches with long-baseline detectors like the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). In this paper, previous ideal-magnetohydrodynamic models of isothermal mountains are generalized to a range of physically motivated, adiabatic equations of state. It is found that the mass ellipticity ε drops substantially, from ε≈ 3 {x} 10–4 (isothermal) to ε≈ 9 {x} 10–7 (non-relativistic degenerate neutrons), 6 {x} 10–8 (relativistic degenerate electrons) and 1 {x} 10–8 (non-relativistic degenerate electrons) (assuming a magnetic field of 1012.5 G at birth). The characteristic mass Mc at which the magnetic dipole moment halves from its initial value is also modified, from Mc/M☉≈ 5 {x} 10–4 (isothermal) to Mc/M☉≈ 2 {x} 10–6, 1 {x} 10–7, and 3 {x} 10–8 for the above three equations of state, respectively. Similar results are obtained for a realistic, piecewise-polytropic nuclear equation of state. The adiabatic models are consistent with current LIGO upper limits, unlike the isothermal models. Updated estimates of gravitational-wave detectability are made. Monte Carlo simulations of the spin distribution of accreting millisecond pulsars including gravitational-wave stalling agree better with observations for certain adiabatic equations of state, implying that X-ray spin measurements can probe the equation of state when coupled with magnetic mountain models.
Abstract Copyright:
2011 The Authors Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society2011 RAS
Journal keyword(s):
accretion, accretion discs - stars: magnetic field - stars: neutron - pulsars: general
Simbad objects:
4
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