Probing dense matter in neutron stars with axial w-modes

We study the problem of extracting information about composition and equation of state of dense matter in neutron star interior using axial w-modes. We determine complex frequencies of axial w-modes for a set of equations of state involving hyperons as well as Bose-Einstein condensates of antikaons adopting the continued fraction method. Hyperons and antikaon condensates result in softer equations of state leading to higher frequencies of first axial w-modes than that of nuclear matter case, whereas the opposite happens in case of damping times. The presence of condensates may lead to the appearance of a new stable branch of superdense stars beyond the neutron star branch called the third family. The existence of same mass compact stars in both branches are known as neutron star twins. Further investigation of twins reveal that first axial w-mode frequencies of superdense stars in the third family are higher than those of the corresponding twins in the neutron star branch.Comment: LaTeX; 23 pages including two tables and 11 figure

Hyperon bulk viscosity in the presence of antikaon condensate

We investigate the hyperon bulk viscosity due to the non-leptonic process $n + p \rightleftharpoons p + \Lambda$ in $K^-$ condensed matter and its effect on the r-mode instability in neutron stars. We find that the hyperon bulk viscosity coefficient in the presence of antikaon condensate is suppressed compared with the case without the condensate. The suppressed hyperon bulk viscosity in the superconducting phase is still an efficient mechanism to damp the r-mode instability in neutron stars.Comment: AASTeX; 21 pages including 5 figures; change in the title and replaced by the revised versio

Effect of hyperon-hyperon interaction on bulk viscosity and r-mode instability in neutron stars

We investigate the effect of hyperon matter including hyperon-hyperon interaction on bulk viscosity. Equations of state are constructed within the framework of a relativistic field theoretical model where baryon-baryon interaction is mediated by the exchange of scalar and vector mesons. Hyperon-hyperon interaction is also taken into account by the exchange of two strange mesons. This interaction results in a smaller maximum mass neutron star compared with the case without the interaction. The coefficient of bulk viscosity due to the non-leptonic weak process is determined by these equations of state. The interacting hyperon matter reduces the bulk viscosity coefficient in a neutron star interior compared with the no interaction case. The r-mode instability is more effectively suppressed in hyperon-hyperon interaction case than that without the interaction.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures; two new figures added and results and discussion section revised; final version to appear in PR

Dynamical Origin of Extrasolar Planet Eccentricity Distribution

We explore the possibility that the observed eccentricity distribution of extrasolar planets arose through planet-planet interactions, after the initial stage of planet formation was complete. Our results are based on ~3250 numerical integrations of ensembles of randomly constructed planetary systems, each lasting 100 Myr. We find that for a remarkably wide range of initial conditions the eccentricity distributions of dynamically active planetary systems relax towards a common final equilibrium distribution, well described by the fitting formula dn ~ e exp[-1/2 (e/0.3)^2] de. This distribution agrees well with the observed eccentricity distribution for e > 0.2, but predicts too few planets at lower eccentricities, even when we exclude planets subject to tidal circularization. These findings suggest that a period of large-scale dynamical instability has occurred in a significant fraction of newly formed planetary systems, lasting 1--2 orders of magnitude longer than the ~1 Myr interval in which gas-giant planets are assembled. This mechanism predicts no (or weak) correlations between semimajor axis, eccentricity, inclination, and mass in dynamically relaxed planetary systems. An additional observational consequence of dynamical relaxation is a significant population of planets (>10%) that are highly inclined (>25deg) with respect to the initial symmetry plane of the protoplanetary disk; this population may be detectable in transiting planets through the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, conclusions updated to reflect the current observational constraint

Future of the North American Carbon Cycle

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, primarily due to fossil fuel emissions and land-use change, are expected to continue to drive changes in both climate and the terrestrial and ocean carbon cycles. Over the past two-to-three decades, there has been considerable effort to understand how terrestrial and oceanic systems behave (in response to rising atmospheric CO2 and changing climate conditions), quantify the dynamics of system responses to environmental change, and project how the ocean and terrestrial carbon cycle will interact with, and influence, future atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate. In this presentation, we will summarize key findings related to projected changes to the North American carbon cycle and drivers and associated consequences of these changes, as reported in Chapter 19 of the Second State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR-2). The findings not only capture projections of emissions from fossil fuel and changes in land cover and land use, but also highlight the decline in future carbon uptake capacity of North American carbon reservoirs and soil carbon losses from the Northern high-latitudes. Such a discussion of future carbon cycle changes is new in SOCCR-2, yet timely. It underlines the progress made since the release of the First State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR-1) in 2007 in identifying the vulnerability of key carbon pools and their co-evolution with changing climatic conditions. We will also discuss key knowledge gaps and outline a set of future research priorities, including both monitoring and modeling activities, that are necessary to improve projections of future changes to the North American carbon cycle and associated adaptation and resource-management decisions

Hyperons and massive neutron stars: vector repulsion and SU(3) symmetry

With the discovery of massive neutron stars such as PSR J1614-2230, the question has arisen whether exotic matter such as hyperons can exist in the neutron star core. We examine the conditions under which hyperons can exist in massive neutron stars. We consistently investigate the vector meson-hyperon coupling, going from SU(6) quark model to a broader SU(3) symmetry. We propose that the maximum neutron star mass decreases linearly with the strangeness content f_s of the neutron star core as M_max(f_s) = M_max(0) - 0.6 M_solar (f_s/0.1), which seems to be independent of the underlying nuclear equation of state and the vector baryon-meson coupling scheme. Thus, pulsar mass measurements can be used to constrain the hyperon fraction in neutron stars.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure