Electron transport through nuclear pasta in magnetized neutron stars

TL;DR

This paper models electron transport in the nuclear pasta layer of magnetized neutron stars, highlighting anisotropic and gyrotropic behaviors caused by nuclear cluster domains and magnetic fields.

Contribution

It introduces a simple model for electron transport in nuclear pasta, accounting for anisotropy and magnetic effects, which was not previously detailed.

Findings

Electron transport is strongly anisotropic and gyrotropic.

Magnetic fields and nuclear cluster domains significantly influence electron collision frequencies.

Averaged kinetic coefficients are calculated for randomly oriented domains.

Abstract

We present a simple model for electron transport in a possible layer of exotic nuclear clusters (in the so called nuclear pasta layer) between the crust and liquid core of a strongly magnetized neutron star. The electron transport there can be strongly anisotropic and gyrotropic. The anisotropy is produced by different electron effective collision frequencies along and across local symmetry axis in domains of exotic ordered nuclear clusters and by complicated effects of the magnetic field. We also calculate averaged kinetic coefficients in case local domains are freely oriented. Possible applications of the obtained results and open problems are outlined.