A Novel Mechanism for Type-I Superconductivity in Neutron Stars

Abstract

We suggest a mechanism that may resolve a conflict raised by Link between the precession of a neutron star and the standard picture in which its core is composed of a mixture of a neutron superfluid and a type-II proton superconductor. We will show that if there is a persistent, non-dissipating current running along the magnetic flux tubes, the force between magnetic flux tubes may be attractive, resulting in a type-I, rather than a type-II, superconductor. If this is the case, the conflict between the observed precession and the canonical estimation of the Landau-Ginzburg parameter (which suggests type II behaviour) will be automatically resolved. Such a current arises in some condensed matter systems and may also appear in QCD dense matter as a consequence of quantum anomalies. We calculate the interaction between two vortices carrying a current j and find a constraint on the magnitude of j where a superconductor is always type-I, even when the cannonical Landau-Ginzburg parameter indicates type-II behaviour. If this condition is met, the magnetic field is expelled from the superconducting regions of the neutron star leading to the formation of the intermediate state where alternating domains of superconducting matter and normal matter coexist. We further argue that even when the induced current is small the vortex Abrikosov lattice will nevertheless be destroyed due to the helical instability studied previously in many condensed matter systems. This would also resolve the apparent contradiction with the precession of the neutron stars. We also discuss some instances where anomalous induced current may play a crucial role, such as the neutron star kicks, pulsar glitches and the toroidal magnetic field.

10 pages, Additional arguments are given supporting the idea that the Abrikosov lattice will be destroyed in regions where longitudinal currents are induced

References in corpus (3)

• Quantum Anomalies in Dense Matter
• Cooling of Neutron Stars. Hadronic Model
• Incompatibility of long-period neutron star precession with creeping neutron vortices

Cited by in corpus (12)

• Crustal Entrainment and Pulsar Glitches
• Superfluidity and Superconductivity in Neutron Stars
• Magnetar superconductivity versus magnetism: neutrino cooling processes
• Tkachenko modes as sources of quasiperiodic pulsar spin variations
• A Constraint-Based Approach to the Chiral Magnetic Effect
• P and CP Violation and New Thermalization Scenario in Heavy Ion Collisions
• Anti-glitches within the standard scenario of pulsar glitches
• Continuous gravitational wave emission from neutron stars with pinned superfluids in the core
• Gapless neutron superfluidity in the crust of the accreting neutron stars KS 1731-260 and MXB 1659-29
• Fluxtube Dynamics in Neutron Star Cores
• Nonperturbative Quantum Field Theory in Astrophysics
• The Cause of a Pulsar Glitch