Year: 2010
Type: preprint
Abstract: Millisecond x-ray pulsars have weak magnetic dipole moments of $\sim 10^{16}$\,T\,m$^3$ compared to ordinary X-ray pulsars with dipole moments of $10^{20}$\,T\,m$^3$. For this reason a surrounding accretion disc can extend closer to the neutron star, and thus reach a higher temperature, at which the opacity is dominated by electron scattering and radiation pressure is strong. We compute the self-similar structure of such a geometrically thin axisymmetric accretion disc with an internal dynamo. Such models produce significantly stronger torques on the neutron star than models without dynamos, and can explain the strong spin variations in some millisecond X-ray pulsars.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Tessema, Solomon Belay, Torkelsson, Ulf
Institutions: Addis Ababa University, University of Gothenburg
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2952421977