# Hot accretion flow around neutron stars

## TL;DR

This study uses hydrodynamic simulations to explore how Compton cooling influences hot accretion flows around neutron stars, revealing distinct density and temperature profiles compared to black holes, and predicting softer spectra for neutron star accretion.

## Contribution

First hydrodynamic simulations of hot accretion flows around neutron stars, highlighting the impact of Compton cooling on flow properties and spectral characteristics.

## Key findings

- Compton cooling suppresses wind at higher accretion rates.
- Density profile varies with accretion rate, from r^{-1.4} to flatter profiles.
- HAF around NS produces softer spectra than around BHs.

## Abstract

We perform as the first time hydrodynamic simulations to study the properties of hot accretion flow (HAF) around a neutron star (NS). The energy carried by the HAF will eventually be radiated out at the surface of the NS. The emitted photons can propagate inside the HAF and cool the HAF via Comptonization. We find that the Compton cooling can affect the properties of HAF around a NS significantly. We define the Eddington accretion rate as $\dot M_{\rm Edd}=10L_{\rm Edd}/c^2$, with $L_{\rm Edd}$ and $c$ being the Eddington luminosity and the speed of light, respectively. We define $\dot m$ as the mass accretion rate at the NS surface in unit of $\dot M_{\rm Edd}$. When $\dot m > 10^{-4}$, Compton cooling can effectively cool the HAF and suppress wind. Therefore, the mass accretion rate is almost a constant with radius. The density profile is $\rho \propto r^{-1.4}$. When $\dot m < 10^{-4}$, the Compton cooling effects become weaker, wind becomes stronger, accretion rate is proportional to $r^{0.3-0.5}$. Consequently, the density profile becomes flatter, $\rho \propto r^{-1 \sim -0.8}$. When $\dot m < 10^{-6}$, the Compton cooling effects can be neglected. We find that with a same accretion rate, the temperature of HAF around a NS is significantly lower than that of HAF around a black hole (BH). Also, the Compton $y-$parameter of HAF around a NS is significantly smaller than that of HAF around a BH. This result predicts that HAF around a NS will produce a softer spectrum compared to HAF around a BH, which is consistent with observations.