Magnetic mountains

Arthur George Suvorov, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen - 29.04.19

Abstract:

Neutron stars (NSs), as part of a binary system with a main sequence companion, accrete matter. The matter is guided onto the polar cap by the NS magnetic field to form mountain-like density profiles which are supported by the compressed equatorial magnetic field (`magnetic mountains'). In this talk we will present the theory surrounding mountains, and explore how they may elucidate certain observational puzzles. The results from the latest magnetohydrodynamical simulations will be given, with emphasis placed on predictions made regarding gravitational wave emission, the emergence of cyclotron resonance scattering features, and type I X-ray burst activity in low mass X-ray binaries.