Excited nuclei in neutron star crusts

TL;DR

This paper investigates how electron capture reactions in neutron star crusts lead to excited nuclei accumulation, proposing a phonon interaction model and mechanisms for neutron and photon emission from these states.

Contribution

It introduces a phonon interaction model for excited nuclei in neutron star crusts and explores the formation of highly excited nuclear states emitting neutrons and photons.

Findings

Excited nuclei accumulate in specific crust layers.

A phonon interaction model describes nuclear interactions.

Highly excited nuclear states emit neutrons and photons.

Abstract

The paper considers the chains of successive electron capture reactions by nuclei of the iron group which take place in the crystal structures of neutron star envelopes. It is shown that as a result of such reactions the daughter nuclei in excited states accumulate within certain layers of neutron star crusts. The phonon model of interactions is proposed between the excited nuclei in the crystalline structure, as well as formation of highly excited nuclear states which emit neutrons and higher energy photons.