On the electrodynamics of neutron stars and overcritical electrodynamical fields in astrophysics

• Grant number: 10/05558-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: November 01, 2010
• End date: October 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Nuclear Physics
• Principal Investigator: Manuel Máximo Bastos Malheiro de Oliveira
• Grantee: Manuel Máximo Bastos Malheiro de Oliveira
• Host Investigator: Remo Ruffini
• Host Institution: Divisão de Ciências Fundamentais (IEF). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
• Associated research grant: 07/03633-3 - Hadronic matter and QCD in astrophysics: supernovae, GRBs and compact stars, AP.TEM

Abstract

We will study charge effects and strong electric fields in the interior of neutron stars. It is possible that exists a large discontinuity in the electron chemical potential between the interior and the crust of neutron stars due to the existence of strong electric potentials, a similar phenomenon to the one expected in super heavy nuclei. Following the discussion on super heavy nuclei about the formation of a surface charge originating strong electric fields, in which electric force is balanced by the surface nuclear tension, a similar effect has been proposed in super dense systems (cores of dense nuclear matter with a total number of neutrons equal to the one presented in neutron stars, on the order of 10 up 57 baryons) where the electrostatic force is balance by the attractive gravitational force. It was proved that is possible to form this type of system, at least in theory. The presence of overcritical electric fields inside compact stars is a new effect that needs to be better investigated and demands a complete revision of the existent models of the composition of matter inside neutron stars. (AU)