We monitored the quiescent thermal emission from neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries after active periods of intense activity in x-rays (outbursts). The theoretical modeling of the thermal relaxation of the neutron star crust may be used to establish constraints on the crust composition and transport properties, depending on the astrophysical scenarios assumed. We numerically simulated the thermal evolution of the neutron star crust and compared them with inferred surface temperatures for five sources: MXB 1659-29, KS 1731-260, EXO 0748-676, XTE J1701-462 and IGR J17480-2446. We find that the evolution of MXB 1659-29, KS 1731-260 and EXO 0748-676 can be well described within a deep crustal cooling scenario. Conversely, we find that the other two sources can only be explained with models beyond crustal cooling. For the peculiar emission of XTE J1701-462 we propose alternative scenarios such as residual accretion during quiescence, additional heat sources in the outer crust, and/or thermal isolation of the inner crust due to a buried magnetic field. We also explain the very recent reported temperature of IGR J17480-2446 with an additional heat deposition in the outer crust from shallow sources.

The observation of thermal emission from isolated neutron stars and the modeling of the corresponding cooling curves has been very useful to get information on the properties of matter at very high densities. More recently, the detection of quiescent thermal emission from neutron stars in low mass X-ray binary systems after active periods opened a new window to the physics of matter at lower densities. Here we analyze a few sources that have been recently monitored and we show how the models can be used to establish constraints on the crust composition and their transport properties, depending on the astrophysical scenarios assumed.

The theory of general relativity describes macroscopic phenomena driven by the influence of gravity while quantum mechanics brilliantly accounts for microscopic effects. Despite their tremendous individual success, a complete unification of fundamental interactions is missing and remains one of the most challenging and important quests in modern theoretical physics. The spacetime explorer and quantum equivalence principle space test satellite mission, proposed as a medium-size mission within the Cosmic Vision program of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims for testing general relativity with high precision in two experiments by performing a measurement of the gravitational redshift of the Sun and the Moon by comparing terrestrial clocks, and by performing a test of the universality of free fall of matter waves in the gravitational field of Earth comparing the trajectory of two Bose–Einstein condensates of 85Rb and 87Rb. The two ultracold atom clouds are monitored very precisely thanks to techniques of atom interferometry. This allows to reach down to an uncertainty in the Eötvös parameter of at least 2 × 10−15. In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources.

The theory of general relativity describes macroscopic phenomena driven by the influence of gravity while quantum mechanics brilliantly accounts for microscopic effects. Despite their tremendous individual success, a complete unification of fundamental interactions is missing and remains one of the most challenging and important quests in modern theoretical physics. The spacetime explorer and quantum equivalence principle space test satellite mission, proposed as a medium-size mission within the Cosmic Vision program of the European Space Agency (ESA), aims for testing general relativity with high precision in two experiments by performing a measurement of the gravitational redshift of the Sun and the Moon by comparing terrestrial clocks, and by performing a test of the universality of free fall of matter waves in the gravitational field of Earth comparing the trajectory of two Bose–Einstein condensates of 85 Rb and 87 Rb. The two ultracold atom clouds are monitored very precisely thanks to techniques of atom interferometry. This allows to reach down to an uncertainty in the E¨otv¨os parameter of at least 2 × 10 − 15 . In this paper, we report about the results of the phase A mission study of the atom interferometer instrument covering the description of the main payload elements, the atomic source concept, and the systematic error sources.

We are presenting the small satellite mission BOOST (BOOst Symmetry Test). It aims for testing the foundations of special relativity by performing a modern Kennedy-Thorndike (KT) experiment. A potential violation of the Lorentz invariance is measured by comparing two types of clocks, a highly stable optical resonator (length reference) with a molecular iodine clock (frequency reference). For realizing a small satellite compatible payload, the use of diode-laser technology is favorable and currently already under investigation with respect to other space experiments. A laser wavelength of 1016 nm is foreseen as its second harmonics accesses narrow linewidth transitions in molecular iodine. Both lasers are directly compared in a beat measurement and analyzed with respect to a possible violation of boost invariance. By employing clocks with 10E−16 frequency stabilities at orbit time and by integration over 5000 orbits, a 1000-fold improvement in measuring the Kennedy-Thorndike coefficient is targeted compared to the current best terrestrial test.

Context. In the magneto-centrifugal mechanism for jet formation, accreting neutron stars are assumed to produce relativistic jets only if their surface magnetic field is weak enough (B similar to 10(8) G). However, the most common manifestation of neutron stars are pulsars, whose magnetic field distribution peaks at B similar to 10(12) G. If the neutron star magnetic field has at least this strength at birth, it must decay considerably before jets can be launched in binary systems.Aims. We study the magnetic field evolution of a neutron star that accretes matter from the wind of a high-mass stellar companion so that we can constrain the accretion rate and the impurities in the crust, which are necessary conditions for jet formation.Methods. We solved the induction equation for the diffusion and convection of the neutron star magnetic field confined to the crust, assuming spherical accretion in a simpliflied one-dimensional treatment. We incorporated state-of-the-art microphysics, including consistent thermal evolution profiles, and assumed two different neutron star cooling scenarios based on the superfluidity conditions at the core.Results. We find that in this scenario, magnetic field decay at long timescales is governed mainly by the accretion rate, while the impurity content and thermal evolution of the neutron star play a secondary role. For accretion rates (M) over dot greater than or similar to 10(-10) M-circle dot yr(-1), surface magnetic fields can decay up to four orders of magnitude in similar to 10(7) yr, which is the timescale imposed by the evolution of the high-mass stellar companion in these systems. Based on these results, we discuss the possibility of transient jet-launching in strong wind-accreting high-mass binary systems like supergiant fast X-ray transients.

We propose a small satellite mission that aims for testing the foundations of special relativity by performing a Kennedy-Thorndike (KT) experiment. A potential boost dependence of the velocity of light is measured by comparing a length reference (i.e. a highly stable optical resonator) with a molecular frequency reference. By employing clocks with 10-16 frequency stability at half orbit time (45 min) and by integration over 5000 orbits (2 years mission lifetime with 50% duty cycle) a 1600-fold improvement in measuring the Kennedy-Thorndike coefficient is targeted, compared to the current best terrestrial test.

We propose a small satellite mission that aims for testing the postulates of special relativity by performing a Kennedy-Thorndike (KT) experiment. A potential boost dependence of the velocity of light is measured by comparing a length reference (i.e. an optical resonator) with a molecular frequency reference. Both employed clocks reached 10-16 frequency stability at orbit time (90 min) and by integration over 5000 orbits (2 years mission lifetime with 50 % duty cycle) a 1600-fold improvement in measuring the Kennedy-Thorndike coefficient is targeted, compared to the current best terrestrial test

Atom interferometry provides extremely sensitive and accurate tools for the measurement of inertial forces. Operation of atom interferometers in microgravity is expected to enhance the performance of such sensors. This paper presents two possible implementations of a dual 85Rb-87Rb atom interferometer to perform differential gravity measurements in space, with the primary goal to test the Weak Equivalence Principle. The proposed scheme is in the framework of two projects of the European Space Agency, namely Q-WEP and STE-QUEST. The paper describes the baseline experimental configuration, and discusses the technology readiness, noise and error budget for the two proposed experiments.

Observations of magnetars and some of the high magnetic field pulsars have shown that their thermal luminosity is systematically higher than that of classical radio-pulsars, thus confirming the idea that magnetic fields are involved in their X-ray emission. Here we present the results of 2D simulations of the fully-coupled evolution of temperature and magnetic field in neutron stars, including the state-of-the-art kinetic coefficients and, for the first time, the important effect of the Hall term. After gathering and thoroughly re-analysing in a consistent way all the best available data on isolated, thermally emitting neutron stars, we compare our theoretical models to a data sample of 40 sources. We find that our evolutionary models can explain the phenomenological diversity of magnetars, high-B radio-pulsars, and isolated nearby neutron stars by only varying their initial magnetic field, mass and envelope composition. Nearly all sources appear to follow the expectations of the standard theoretical models. Finally, we discuss the expected outburst rates and the evolutionary links between different classes. Our results constitute a major step towards the grand unification of the isolated neutron star zoo.

AbstractAccreting neutron stars can produce jets only if they are weakly magnetized (B ~ 108 G). On the other hand, neutron stars are compact objects born with strong surface magnetic fields (B ~ 1012 G). In this work we study the conditions for jet formation in a binary system formed by a neutron star and a massive donor star once the magnetic field has decayed due to accretion. We solve the induction equation for the magnetic field diffusion in a realistic neutron star crust and discuss the possibility of jet launching in systems like the recently detected Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients.

Recent monitoring of the quiescent thermal emission from NSs in low mass X–ray binaries (LMXBs) after active periods (bursts) opened a new view to the physics of dense matter. Theoretical modeling of the thermal relaxation of the crust may be used to establish constraints on the thermal conductivity of matter, depending on the accretion rate. We present here cooling curves obtained from numerical simulations that fit the light curves for two sources (KS 1731-260, MXB 1659-29). We estimate the model parameters (accretion rate, thermal conductivity) that match the data and compare our results with previous constraints of neutron star crust properties in LMXBs.

We report on a new mechanism for heat conduction in the neutron star crust. We find that collective modes of superfluid neutron matter, called superfluid phonons, can influence heat conduction in magnetized neutron stars. They can dominate the heat conduction transverse to the magnetic field when the magnetic field B> approximately 10(13) G. At a density of rho approximately 10(12)-10(14) g/cm3, the conductivity due to superfluid phonons is significantly larger than that due to lattice phonons and is comparable to electron conductivity when the temperature approximately 10(8) K. This new mode of heat conduction can limit the surface anisotropy in highly magnetized neutron stars. Cooling curves of magnetized neutron stars with and without superfluid heat conduction could show observationally discernible differences.

Context: Many thermally emitting isolated neutron stars have magnetic fields larger than 10^13 G. A realistic cooling model that includes the presence of high magnetic fields should be reconsidered. Aims: We investigate the effects of anisotropic temperature distribution and Joule heating on the cooling of magnetized neutron stars. Methods: The 2D heat transfer equation with anisotropic thermal conductivity tensor and including all relevant neutrino emission processes is solved for realistic models of the neutron star interior and crust. Results: The presence of the magnetic field affects significantly the thermal surface distribution and the cooling history during both, the early neutrino cooling era and the late photon cooling era. Conclusions: There is a large effect of the Joule heating on the thermal evolution of strongly magnetized neutron stars. Both magnetic fields and Joule heating play a key role in keeping magnetars warm for a long time. Moreover, this effect is important for intermediate field neutron stars and should be considered in radio-quiet isolated neutron stars or high magnetic field radio-pulsars.

We present two-dimensional simulations for the cooling of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields (B > 1e13 Gauss). We study how the cooling curves are influenced by magnetic field decay. We show that the Joule heating effects are very large and in some cases control the thermal evolution. We characterize the temperature anisotropy induced by the magnetic field and predict the surface temperature distribution for the early and late stages of the evolution of isolated neutron stars, comparing our results with available observational data of isolated neutron stars.

We present 2D simulations of the cooling of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields (B \geq 10^{13} G). We solve the diffusion equation in axial symmetry including the state of the art microphysics that controls the cooling such as slow/fast neutrino processes, superfluidity, as well as possible heating mechanisms. We study how the cooling curves depend on the the magnetic field strength and geometry. Special attention is given to discuss the influence of magnetic field decay. We show that Joule heating effects are very large and in some cases control the thermal evolution. We characterize the temperature anisotropy induced by the magnetic field for the early and late stages of the evolution of isolated neutron stars.

The impact of strong magnetic fields B > 10(13) G on the thermal evolution of neutron stars is investigated, including crustal heating by magnetic field decay. For this purpose, we perform 2D cooling simulations with anisotropic thermal conductivity considering all relevant neutrino emission processes for realistic neutron stars. The standard cooling models of neutron stars are called into question by showing that the magnetic field has relevant (and in many cases dominant) effects on the thermal evolution. The presence of the magnetic field significantly affects the thermal surface distribution and the cooling history of these objects during both the early neutrino cooling era and the late photon cooling era. The minimal cooling scenario is thus more complex than generally assumed. A consistent magnetothermal evolution of magnetized neutron stars is needed to explain the observations.

We present results of a microscopic calculation using NJL-type model of possible spin-one pairings in two flavor quark matter for applications in compact star phenomenology. We focus on the color-spin locking phase (CSL) in which all quarks pair in a symmetric way, in which color and spin rotations are locked. The CSL condensate is particularly interesting for compact star applications since it is flavor symmetric and could easily satisfy charge neutrality. Moreover, the fact that in this phase all quarks are gapped might help to suppress the direct Urca process, consistent with cooling models. The order of magnitude of these small gaps (≃1 MeV) will not influence the EoS, but their also small critical temperatures (T c ≃800 keV) could be relevant in the late stages neutron star evolution, when the temperature falls below this value and a CSL quark core could form.

We study the influence of nonlocality in the interaction on two spin-one pairing patterns of two-flavor quark matter: the anisotropic blue-color pairing besides the usual two-color superconducting matter (2SCb), in which red and green colors are paired, and the color-spin locking phase (CSL). The effect of nonlocality on the gaps is rather large and the pairings exhibit a strong dependence on the form factor of the interaction, especially in the low-density region. The application of these small spin-one condensates for compact stars is analyzed: the early onset of quark matter in the nonlocal models may help to stabilize hybrid star configurations. While the anisotropic blue-quark pairing does not survive a big asymmetry in flavor space as imposed by the charge neutrality condition, the CSL phase as a flavor independent pairing can be realized as neutral matter in compact star cores. However, smooth form factors and the mismatch between the flavor chemical potential in neutral matter make the effective gaps of the order of magnitude ≃10 keV, and a more systematic analysis is needed to decide whether such small gaps could be consistent with the cooling phenomenology.

We present results for the spin-1 color-spin-locking (CSL) phase using a NJL-type model in two-flavor quark matter for compact stars applications. The CSL condensate is flavor symmetric and therefore charge and color neutrality can easily be satisfied. We find small energy gaps ≃ 1MeV, which make the CSL matter composition and the EoS not very different from the normal quark matter phase. We keep finite quark masses in our calculations and obtain no gapless modes that could have strong consequences in the late cooling of neutron stars. Finally, we show that the region of the phase diagram relevant for neutron star cores, when asymmetric flavor pairing is suppressed, could be covered by the CSL phase.