Joint Astrophysics Colloquium

The Dynamic Neutron Star Crust

Bennett Link

Montana State University

A neutron star comprises an ultra-strong metallic crust afloat on more than a solar mass of quantum liquid at supra-nuclear density. I will describe how interaction of the crust with the neutron superfluid it contains affects observed stellar rotational modes. I will demonstrate that neutron stars with crust magnetic fields of ~10¹⁵ G (“magnetars”) are susceptible to a thermal instability that melts the crust, leading to rapid field evolution and release of magnetic energy. Development of this instability could produce observed gamma-ray flares.