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Electrical Conductivity of Neutron Star Matter

Nature volume 224, pages 674–675 (1969)Cite this article

Abstract

THE time for the magnetic field of a neutron star to decay by ohmic dissipation plays an important part in theories of pulsars1–3. The decay time for the lowest mode in a spherical star of radius R and of constant electrical conductivity σ is given by4,5 Previous estimates3 of σ(≈6×1022 s−1) lead to values of τD ≈ 4 × 106 yr for R = 10 km. This time is relatively short on the evolutionary time scale of pulsars. We show below that σ is at least six orders of magnitude greater than the estimate quoted above. Consequently τD is greater than the age of the universe, and flux decay in neutron stars is therefore completely negligible.

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Author notes

  1. CHRISTOPHER PETHICK: On leave of absence from Magdalen College, Oxford.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 61801

    GORDON BAYM, CHRISTOPHER PETHICK & DAVID PINES

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  1. GORDON BAYM
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  2. CHRISTOPHER PETHICK
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  3. DAVID PINES
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BAYM, G., PETHICK, C. & PINES, D. Electrical Conductivity of Neutron Star Matter. Nature 224, 674–675 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/224674a0

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