Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of accreted neutron-star crust

We show that, in order to determine the equation of state of the inner crust of an accreting neutron star, one should minimize not the Gibbs free energy, as it is generally assumed in the literature, but a different thermodynamic potential Ψ , which tends to the minimum at fixed pressure and neutron...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. D 2021-10, Vol.104 (8), p.1, Article L081301
Main Authors: Gusakov, M. E., Kantor, E. M., Chugunov, A. I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Binary stars
Chemical potential
Deposition
Equations of state
Gibbs free energy
Neutron stars
Neutrons
Nonequilibrium thermodynamics
Nuclear reactions
Stellar crusts
X ray binaries
X ray stars
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Summary:We show that, in order to determine the equation of state of the inner crust of an accreting neutron star, one should minimize not the Gibbs free energy, as it is generally assumed in the literature, but a different thermodynamic potential Ψ , which tends to the minimum at fixed pressure and neutron chemical potential. Once this potential is specified, one can calculate the heat-release distribution in the stellar crust due to nonequilibrium nuclear reactions induced by accretion of matter onto the neutron-star surface. The results are important for adequate modeling of the accreted crust and interpretation of the observations of accreting neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries.
ISSN:2470-0010
2470-0029
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevD.104.L081301