Modeling magnetized neutron stars using resistive MHD

TL;DR

This paper develops a resistive MHD model within General Relativity to simulate magnetized neutron stars, capturing magnetic anisotropies and electromagnetic phenomena in stars and their magnetospheres.

Contribution

It introduces a novel implementation of resistive MHD equations with a phenomenological Ohm's law in full General Relativity, enabling realistic simulations of neutron star magnetic fields.

Findings

Successful simulation of aligned rotator systems

Modeling of neutron star collapse to black hole

Accurate depiction of electromagnetic fields in magnetospheres

Abstract

This work presents an implementation of the resistive MHD equations for a generic algebraic Ohm's law which includes the effects of finite resistivity within full General Relativity. The implementation naturally accounts for magnetic-field-induced anisotropies and, by adopting a phenomenological current, is able to accurately describe electromagnetic fields in the star and in its magnetosphere. We illustrate the application of this approach in interesting systems with astrophysical implications; the aligned rotator solution and the collapse of a magnetized rotating neutron star to a black hole.