Astrophysics of Neutron Stars

In this book will be found a description of the current state of experimental and theoretical investigations of neutron stars in all their manifestations. The approach adopted leads to topics in plasma physics and magnetohydrodynamics also being discussed. Students and professionals in astrophysics and physics alike will find this revised and enlarged version of the original Russian edition essential reading for its coverage of neutron star classification and evolution.

1. Theoretical and Observational Principles of the Astrophysics of Neutron Stars.- 1.1 Prediction.- 1.2 Accretion.- 1.3 Rotation and Magnetic Field.- 1.4 Radiopulsars.- 1.5 New Ideas.- 1.6 X-Ray Pulsars.- 1.7 X-Ray Bursters.- 1.8 Bursts and Other Sources of Gamma Rays.- 1.9 General View.- 2. Structure of Neutron Stars.- 2.1 Equilibrium of Stars.- 2.2 Exact Equilibrium Equations for Cold Stars.- 2.3 Physical Conditions Inside Neutron Stars.- 2.4 Parameters of Neutron Stars.- 2.5 Mass of Neutron Stars.- 2.6 Rotational Effects.- 3. Fluid Dynamics of Accretion.- 3.1 Spherically Symmetric Accretion.- 3.2 The Role of Radiation and Ejection.- 3.3 Spherical Accretion to a Neutron Star Without a Magnetic Field.- 3.4 Capture of Matter by a Moving Star.- 3.5 Fluid Dynamics of Cylindrical Accretion.- 3.6 Disk Accretion.- 3.7 Luminosity and Spectrum of Accretion Disks.- 3.8 Supercritical Disk Accretion.- 3.9 Accretion in Binary Systems.- 3.10 Two-Stream Accretion.- 3.11 Accretion of Magnetic Fields.- 4. Classification of Neutron Stars.- 4.1 Magnetic Dipole.- 4.2 Stopping Radius.- 4.3 Stopping Radius in the Supercritical Case.- 4.4 The Effect of a Magnetic Field.- 4.5 Gravimagnetic Parameter.- 4.6 Corotation Radius.- 4.7 Nomenclature.- 4.8 Critical Periods. The p-y and p-L Diagrams.- 5. Boundaries. Magnetospheres of Slowly Rotating Neutron Stars.- 5.1 Physical Conditions in the Alfvén Zone.- 5.2 Formulation of the Problem.- 5.3 Simple Configurations.- 5.4 Magnetosphere in Spherically Symmetric Accretion.- 5.5 Pascal's Pressure Law.- 5.7 Magnetosphere in a Plane-parallel Plasma Flow.- 5.8 Two-Stream Accretion.- 6. Accreting Neutron Stars.- 6.1 Boundary Stability.- 6.2 The Polar Column.- 6.3 Spin-up, Spin-down and Induced Precession of Accreting Stars.- 6.4 Observed Properties ofX-Ray Pulsars.- 6.5 Energy Parameters of Pulsars and Transport of Matter in Binary Systems.- 6.6 Spectrum and Magnetic Fields.- 6.7 Periods of X-Ray Pulsars and Their Variation.- 6.8 Variability of X-Ray Sources. Transients.- 6.9 Generation of Relativistic Particles.- 6.10 X-Ray Bursters.- 6.11 Nuclear Burning at the Surface of Neutron Stars. Spherically Symmetric Model.- 6.12 Accretion to X-Ray Bursters.- 6.13 Spinning-up of Weakly Magnetized Neutron Stars.- 6.14 Low-Mass X-Ray Sources. "Noisars".- 6.15 p-y Diagram for Accreting Neutron Stars.- 7. The "Propeller" Regime.- 7.1 Quasistatic Shells.- 7.2 Spinning-down in the Boundary Layer.- 7.3 Two-Stream Flow Formation due to the Propeller Effect.- 7.4 Dead Disks and Accumulator Disks.- 7.5 Nonstationary Disk Accretion. Model of Transient X-Ray Sources.- 7.6 Relativistic Propeller.- 7.7 Objects That Can Become Propellers.- 8. Ejecting Stars.- 8.1 Observed Characteristics of Radiopulsars.- 8.2 Radiopulsars as Ejecting Neutron Stars.- 8.3 Pulsar Electrodynamics and Generation of Relativistic Particles.- 8.4 Mechanisms of Radiation.- 8.5 Caverns Around Neutron Stars.- 8.6 Change in Radiopulsar Period.- 8.7 Evolution of Radiopulsars.- 8.8 Spatial Velocities of Radiopulsars.- 8.9 Ejecting Stars in Binary Systems.- 9. Supercritical Regimes.- 9.1 Superaccretor.- 9.2 Superejectors and Superpropellers.- 9.3 Is SS 433 a Superaccretor?.- 9.4 Other Candidates.- 10. Stars with an Anomalously Low Value of Gravimagnetic Parameter.- 10.1 Georotators.- 10.2 Binary Magnetic Systems (Magnetors).- 11. Evolution of Stars.- 11.1 Normal Stars.- 11.2 Evolution of Neutron Stars.- 11.3 Neutron Star Tracks.- 11.4 Numerical Simulation of the Joint Evolution of Normal and Neutron Stars.- 11.5 Possible Candidates.- MagnetohydrodynamicInstabilities.- Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) Instability.- Commutation Instability.- References.