Magnetic and spin evolution of neutron stars in close binaries

Abstract

The evolution of neutron stars in close binary systems with a low-mass companion is considered assuming the magnetic field to be confined within the solid crust. We adopt the standard scenario of the evolution in a close binary system in accordance with which the neutron star passes throughout four evolutionary phases ("isolated pulsar" -- "propeller" -- accretion from the wind of a companion -- accretion due to Roche-lobe overflow). Calculations have been performed for a great variety of parameters characterizing the properties both of the neutron star and low-mass companion. We find that neutron stars with more or less standard magnetic field and spin period being processed in low-mass binaries can evolve to low-field rapidly rotating pulsars. Even if the main-sequence life of a companion is as long as $10^{10}$ yr, the neutron star can maintain a relatively strong magnetic field to the end of the accretion phase. The considered model can well account for the origin of millisecond pulsars.

18 pages + 10 figures, uses epsf.sty. Accepted by MNRAS

Cited by in corpus (25)

• On the relevance of the r-mode instability for accreting neutron stars and white dwarfs
• Magnetic Field Evolution in Neutron Star Crusts due to the Hall Effect and Ohmic Decay
• Accurate evolutions of inspiralling and magnetized neutron-stars: equal-mass binaries
• X-ray binaries
• Can magnetic fields be detected during the inspiral of binary neutron stars?
• Torque Decay in the Pulsar (P,P_dot) Diagram. Effects of Crustal Ohmic Dissipation and Alignment
• Type II superconductivity and magnetic flux transport in neutrons stars
• Possible evidence of quark matter in neutron star X-ray binaries
• Joule heating and the thermal evolution of old neutron stars
• Spin Period Evolution of Recycled Pulsar in Accreting Binary
• Sinking of a magnetically confined mountain on an accreting neutron star
• The Evolution of Relativistic Binary Progenitor Systems
• Flux Expulsion - Field Evolution in Neutron Stars
• On the detection of pre-low-mass X-ray binaries
• The effect of the neutron star crust on the evolution of a core magnetic field
• Recycling neutron stars to ultra short periods: a statistical analysis of their evolution in the mu-P plane
• Magnetothermal Evolution of Neutron Stars with Emphasis to Radio Pulsars
• Turning Points in the Evolution of Isolated Neutron Stars' Magnetic Fields
• Retrograde wind accretion -- an alternative mechanism for long spin-period of SFXTs
• Physical Environment of Accreting Neutron Stars
• Estimates of the Surface Magnetic Field Strength of Radio Pulsars
• Element spots in Ap- and HgMn-stars from current-driven diffusion
• Rotational Coupling of the Pinned Core Superfluid
• IGR J17480-2446: a new class of accreting binaries?
• Compositional waves and variations in the atmospheric abundances of magnetic stars