Michael Gabler

Magnetoelastic oscillations of neutron stars with dipolar magnetic fields

By means of two dimensional, general-relativistic, magneto-hydrodynamical simulations we investigate the oscillations of magnetized neutron star models (magnetars) including the de- scription of an extended solid crust. The aim of this study is to understand the origin of the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in the giant flares of soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs). We confirm our previous findings which showed the existence of three different regimes in the evolution depending on the dipolar magnetic field strength: (a) a weak mag- netic field regime B 10 15 G, where magneto-elastic oscillations reach the surface and approach the behavior of purely AlfvQPOs. When the Alfv´ en QPOs are confined to the core of the neutron star, we find qualitatively similar QPOs as in the absence of a crust. The lower QPOs associated with the closed field lines of the dipolar magnetic field configuration are reproduced as in our previous simulations without crust, while the upper QPOs connected to the open field lines are displaced from the polar axis. The position of these upper QPOs strongly depends on the magnetic field strength. Additionally, we observe a family of edge QPOs and one new upper QPO, which was not previously found in the ab- sence of a crust. We extend our semi-analytic model to obtain estimates for the continuum of the Alfvoscillations. Our results do not leave much room for a crustal-mode interpreta- tion of observed QPOs in SGR giant flares, but can accommodate an interpretation of these observations as originating from Alfv´ en-like, global, turning-point QPOs (which can reach the surface of the star) in models with dipolar magnetic field strengths in the narrow range of 5 10 15 G. B. 1:4 10 16 G (for a sample of two stiff EoS and various masses). This range is somewhat larger than estimates for magnetic field strengths in known magnetars. The discrepancy may be resolved in models including a more complicated magnetic field structure or with models taking superfluidity of the neutrons and superconductivity of the protons in the core into account.

Magneto-elastic oscillations and the damping of crustal shear modes in magnetars

In a realistic model of magneto-elastic oscillations in magnetars, we find that crustal shear oscillations, often invoked as an explanation of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) seen after giant flares in soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs), are damped by resonant absorption on timescales of at most 0.2s, for a lower limit on the dipole magnetic field strength of 5 10 13 G. At higher magnetic field strengths (typical in magnetars) the damping timescale is even shorter, as anticipated by earlier toy-models. We have investigated a range of equations of state and masses and if magnetars are dominated by a dipole magnetic field, our findings exclude torsional shear oscillations of the crust from explaining the observed low-frequency QPOs. In contrast, we find that the Alfv´ en QPO model is a viable explanation of observed QPOs, if the dipole magnetic field strength exceeds a minimum strength of about several times 10 14 G to

Magneto-elastic oscillations of neutron stars: exploring different magnetic field configurations

We study magneto-elastic oscillations of highly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) which have been proposed as an explanation for the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) appearing in the decaying tail of the giant flares of soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs). We extend previous studies by investigating various magnetic field configurations, computing the Alfv´ en spectrum in each case and performing magneto-elastic simulations for a selected number of models. By identifying the observed frequencies of 28 Hz (SGR 1900+14) and 30 Hz (SGR 1806-20) with the fundamental Alfv´ en QPOs, we estimate the required surface magnetic field strength. For the magnetic field configurations investigated (dipole-like poloidal, mixed toroidal-poloidal with a dipole-like poloidal component and a toroidal field confined to the region of field lines closing inside the star, and for poloidal fields with an additional quadrupole-like component) the estimated dipole spin-down magnetic fields are between 8 10 14 G and 4 10 15 G, in broad agreement with spin-down estimates for the SGR sources producing giant flares. A number of these models exhibit a rich Alfv´ en continuum revealing new turning points which can produce QPOs. This allows one to explain most of the observed QPO frequencies as associated with magneto-elastic QPOs. In particular, we construct a possible configuration with two turning points in the spectrum which can explain all observed QPOs of SGR 1900+14. Finally, we find that magnetic field configurations which are entirely confined in the crust (if the core is assumed to be a type I superconductor) are not favoured, due to difficulties in explaining the lowest observed QPO frequencies (f . 30 Hz).

Imprints of superfluidity on magnetoelastic quasiperiodic oscillations of soft gamma-ray repeaters.

Our numerical simulations show that axisymmetric, torsional, magneto-elastic oscillations of magnetars with a superfluid core can explain the whole range of observed quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the giant flares of soft gamma-ray repeaters. There exist constant phase, magneto-elastic QPOs at both low (f < 150Hz) and high frequencies (f > 500Hz), in full agreement with observations. The range of magnetic field strengths required to match the observed QPO frequencies agrees with that from spin-down estimates. These results strongly suggest that neutrons in magnetar cores are superfluid.

Modulating the magnetosphere of magnetars by internal magneto-elastic oscillations

We couple internal torsional, magneto-elastic oscillations of highly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) to their magnetospheres. The corresponding axisymmetric perturbations of the external magnetic field configuration evolve as a sequence of linear, force-free equilibria that are completely determined by the background magnetic field configuration and by the perturbations of the magnetic field at the surface. The perturbations are obtained from simulations of magneto-elastic oscillations in the interior of the magnetar. While such oscillations

Nonlinear radial oscillations of neutron stars

The effects of nonlinear oscillations in compact stars are attracting considerable current interest. In order to study such phenomena in the framework of fully nonlinear general relativity, highly accurate numerical studies are required. A numerical scheme specifically tailored for such a study is based on formulating the time evolution in terms of deviations from a stationary equilibrium configuration. Using this technique, we investigate over a wide range of amplitudes nonlinear effects in the evolution of radial oscillations of neutron stars. In particular, we discuss mode coupling due to nonlinear interaction, the occurrence of resonance phenomena, shock formation near the stellar surface as well as the capacity of nonlinearities to stabilize perturbatively unstable neutron star models.

Coherent magneto-elastic oscillations in superfluid magnetars

We study the effect of superfluidity on torsional oscillations of highly magnetised neutron stars (magnetars) with a microphysical equation of state by means of two-dimensional, magnetohydrodynamical- elastic simulations. The superfluid properties of the neutrons in the neutron star core are treated in a parametric way in which we effectively decouple part of the core matter from the oscillations. Our simulations confirm the existence of two groups of oscillations, namely continuum oscillations that are confined to the neutron star core and are of Alfvenic character, and global oscillations with constant phase and that are of mixed magneto-elastic type. The latter might explain the quasi-periodic oscillations observed in magnetar giant flares, since they do not suffer from the additional damping mechanism due to phase mixing, contrary to what happens for continuum oscillations. However, we cannot prove rigorously that the coherent oscillations with constant phase are normal modes. Moreover, we find no crustal shear modes for the magnetic field strengths typical for magnetars.We provide fits to our numerical simulations that give the oscillation frequencies as functions of magnetic field strength and proton fraction in the core.

Constraining properties of high-density matter in neutron stars with magneto-elastic oscillations

We discuss torsional oscillations of highly magnetised neutron stars (magnetars) using two-dimensional, magneto-elastic-hydrodynamical simulations. Our model is able to explain both the low- and high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in magnetars. The analysis of these oscillations provides constraints on the breakout magnetic-field strength, on the fundamental QPO frequency, and on the frequency of a particularly excited overtone. More importantly, we show how to use this information to generically constraint properties of high-density matter in neutron stars, employing Bayesian analysis. In spite of current uncertainties and computational approximations, our model-dependent Bayesian posterior estimates for SGR 1806-20 yield a magnetic-field strength

X-Ray Absorption in Young Core-collapse Supernova Remnants

\bar B\sim 2.1^{+1.3}_{-1.0}\times10^{15}\,

Very deep inside the SN 1987a core ejecta: molecular structures seen in 3D

G and a crust thickness of