Work Function of Strongly Magnetized Neutron Star Crustal Matter and the Associated Magneto-Sphere

TL;DR

This paper calculates the work function of neutron star crustal matter under strong magnetic fields using a relativistic Thomas-Fermi model, revealing anisotropic behavior and estimating electron emission in the magnetosphere.

Contribution

It introduces a relativistic Thomas-Fermi model to analyze the anisotropic work function in strongly magnetized neutron star crusts, extending previous ideas.

Findings

Work function becomes anisotropic under strong magnetic fields.

Longitudinal work function increases with magnetic field strength.

Estimated electron density due to field and photo emission in the magnetosphere.

Abstract

Following an extremely interesting idea \cite{R1}, published long ago, the work function at the outer crust region of a strongly magnetized neutron star is obtained using relativistic version of Thomas-Fermi type model. In the present scenario, the work function becomes anisotropic; the longitudinal part is an increasing function of magnetic field strength, whereas the transverse part diverges. An approximate estimate of the electron density in the magnetosphere due to field emission and photo emission current, from the polar cap region are obtained.