2D Cooling of Magnetized Neutron Stars

TL;DR

This paper models the 2D thermal evolution of magnetized neutron stars, highlighting the significant impact of magnetic fields and Joule heating on their cooling behavior and surface temperature distribution.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive 2D heat transfer model including anisotropic conductivity and Joule heating, providing new insights into magnetar thermal evolution.

Findings

Magnetic fields significantly influence surface temperature distribution.

Joule heating prolongs the thermal lifespan of magnetars.

Magnetic effects are important for understanding high magnetic field neutron stars.

Abstract

Context: Many thermally emitting isolated neutron stars have magnetic fields larger than 10^13 G. A realistic cooling model that includes the presence of high magnetic fields should be reconsidered. Aims: We investigate the effects of anisotropic temperature distribution and Joule heating on the cooling of magnetized neutron stars. Methods: The 2D heat transfer equation with anisotropic thermal conductivity tensor and including all relevant neutrino emission processes is solved for realistic models of the neutron star interior and crust. Results: The presence of the magnetic field affects significantly the thermal surface distribution and the cooling history during both, the early neutrino cooling era and the late photon cooling era. Conclusions: There is a large effect of the Joule heating on the thermal evolution of strongly magnetized neutron stars. Both magnetic fields and Joule heating play a key role in keeping magnetars warm for a long time. Moreover, this effect is important for intermediate field neutron stars and should be considered in radio-quiet isolated neutron stars or high magnetic field radio-pulsars.