Spin polarized states in neutron matter at a strong magnetic field

TL;DR

This study investigates spin polarized states in neutron matter under strong magnetic fields using Skyrme interactions, revealing multiple solution branches and metastable states with implications for neutron star physics.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of multiple spin polarization branches and metastable states in neutron matter at high magnetic fields using the Skyrme model.

Findings

Thermodynamically stable negative spin polarization branch identified.

Positive spin polarization solutions exist at high densities and are metastable.

Magnetic field effects are minimal up to 10^{17} G.

Abstract

Spin polarized states in neutron matter at a strong magnetic field are considered in the model with the Skyrme effective interaction (SLy4, SLy7 parametrizations). Analyzing the self-consistent equations at zero temperature, it is shown that a thermodynamically stable branch of solutions for the spin polarization parameter as a function of density corresponds to the negative spin polarization when the majority of neutron spins are oriented oppositely to the direction of the magnetic field. Besides, beginning from some threshold density being dependent on the magnetic field strength the self-consistent equations have also two other branches (upper and lower) of solutions for the spin polarization parameter with the positive spin polarization. The free energy corresponding to the upper branch turns out to be very close to the free energy corresponding to the thermodynamically preferable branch with the negative spin polarization. As a consequence, at a strong magnetic field, the state with the positive spin polarization can be realized as a metastable state at the high density region in neutron matter which under decreasing density at some threshold density changes into a thermodynamically stable state with the negative spin polarization. The calculations of the neutron spin polarization parameter and energy per neutron as functions of the magnetic field strength show that the influence of the magnetic field remains small at the field strengths up to $10^{17}$ G.