ACP Seminar (Astronomy - Cosmology - Particle Physics)

Speaker: Sachiko Tsuruta (Montana State University)
Title: Neutron Star Thermal Evolution and Properties of Ultra-High Density Matter
Date (JST): Thu, Jun 13, 2013, 13:30 - 14:30
Place: Seminar Room A
Abstract: Since the first detection of thermal radiation directly from the surface of neutron stars (NSs), the number of NSs with temperature detection has increased significantly. By carefully analyzing the data and comparing the results with thermal evolution theories, we now have realistic hope for exploring the nature and properties of ultra-high density matter. Currently, the temperature data of Vela pulsar already suggest that the core of a high mass NS may include such exotic particles as pion condensates. However, to confirm such a possibility more such data for more NSs are needed. Fortunately, it was found recently that soft X-ray transients (SXTs) in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB) can provide additional such extra data when they are in quiescence. Very recently not only the temperature detection but also rapid cooling was reported for the NS in young Cassiopeia A (Cas A) supernova remnant. Recently we constructed a NS thermal evolution model which is naturally consistent with the new temperature data of Cas A as well as all other NSs. We will introduce these recent developments.