Neutron star crustal properties from relativistic mean-field models and bulk parameters effects

TL;DR

This study evaluates neutron star crustal properties using relativistic mean-field models, examining how nuclear matter parameters influence these properties and identifying models consistent with pulsar glitch observations and recent astrophysical data.

Contribution

It introduces a specific RMF parametrization that satisfies glitch constraints and aligns with observational data, highlighting the impact of symmetry energy on crustal properties.

Findings

Parametrizations meet glitch constraints for neutron star masses up to 1.82 M_sun and 1.16 M_sun.

Symmetry energy significantly affects crustal mass, radius, and moment of inertia.

A tailored RMF model aligns with pulsar and NICER observational data.

Abstract

We calculate crustal properties of neutron stars, namely, mass ($M_{\rm crust}$), radius ($R_{\rm crust}$) and fraction of moment of inertia ($\Delta I/I$) from parametrizations of hadronic relativistic mean-field (RMF) model consistent with symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter constraints, as well as some stellar boundaries. We verify which one are also in agreement with restrictions of $\Delta I/I \geqslant 1.4\%$ and $\Delta I/I \geqslant 7\%$ related to the glitching mechanism observed in pulsars, such as the Vela one. The latter constraint explains the glitches phenomenon when entrainment effects are taken into account. Our findings indicate that these parametrizations pass in the glitching limit for a neutron star mass range of $M\leqslant 1.82M_\odot$ ($\Delta I/I \geqslant 1.4\%$), and $M\leqslant 1.16M_\odot$ ($\Delta I/I \geqslant 7\%$). We also investigate the influence of nuclear matter bulk parameters on crustal properties and find that symmetry energy is the quantity that produces the higher variations on $M_{\rm crust}$, $R_{\rm crust}$, and~$\Delta I/I$. Based on the results, we construct a particular RMF parametrization able to satisfy $\Delta I/I \geqslant 7\%$ even at $M=1.4M_\odot$, the mass value used to fit data from the softer component of the Vela pulsar X-ray spectrum. The model also presents compatibility with observational data from PSR J1614-2230, PSR J0348+0432, and MSP J0740+6620 pulsars, as well as, with data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission.