Disordered Nuclear Pasta, Magnetic Field Decay, and Crust Cooling in Neutron Stars

Nuclear pasta, with nonspherical shapes, is expected near the base of the crust in neutron stars. Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of pasta show long lived topological defects that could increase electron scattering and reduce both the thermal and electrical conductivities. We model a possible low-conductivity pasta layer by increasing an impurity parameter Qᵢₘₚ. Predictions of light curves for the low-mass x-ray binary MXB 1659-29, assuming a large Qᵢₘₚ, find continued late time cooling that is consistent with Chandra observations. The electrical and thermal conductivities are likely related. Therefore, observations of late time crust cooling can provide insight on the electrical conductivity and the possible decay of neutron star magnetic fields (assuming these are supported by currents in the crust).