Thermally-driven Neutron Star Glitches

We examine the thermal and dynamical response of a neutron star to a sudden perturbation of the inner crust temperature. During the star's evolution, starquakes and other processes may deposit \gap 10^{42} ergs, causing significant internal heating and increased frictional coupling between the crust and the more rapidly rotating neutron superfluid the star is expected to contain. Through numerical simulation we study the propagation of the thermal wave created by the energy deposition, the induced motion of the interior superfluid, and the resulting spin evolution of the crust. We find that energy depositions of $\sim 10^{40}$ ergs produce gradual spin-ups above the timing noise level, while larger energy depositions produce sudden spin jumps resembling pulsar glitches. For a star with a temperature in the observed range of the Vela pulsar, an energy deposition of $\sim 10^{42}$ ergs produces a large spin-up taking place over minutes, similar to the Vela ``Christmas'' glitch. Comparable energy deposition in a younger and hotter ``Crab-like'' star produces a smaller spin-up taking place over $\sim 1$ day, similar to that seen during the partially time-resolved Crab glitch of 1989.Comment: 21 pages plus 17 figures, uuencode compressed Postscript. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Health needs of the Roma population in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

In the growing literature on the human rights of Roma people in Central Europe, their relatively poor health status is often mentioned. However, little concrete information exists about the contemporary health status of the Roma in this region. We sought information on the health of the Roma in two of countries with significant Roma minorities, the Czech and Slovak Republics, by means of systematic searches for literature on the health of Roma people published in Czech or Slovak or by authors from the two countries. Published research on health of the Roma population is sparse. The topics that have received attention suggest a focus on concepts of contagion or social Darwinism, indicating a greater concern with the health needs of the majority populations with which they live. What limited evidence exists indicates that the health needs of the Roma population are considerable. With very few exceptions, the health status of Roma is worse than that of non-Roma population in both countries. The burden of communicable disease among Roma is high and diseases associated with poor hygiene seem to be particularly important. Evidence on health care suggests poor communication between Roma and health workers and low uptake of preventative care. The health needs of Roma lack visibility, not only because of the absence of research but also the absence of advocacy on their behalf. Since 1989, Czech and Slovak researchers have largely turned away from health research on particular ethnic groups. This probably reflects a growing sensitivity about stigmatising Roma, but it also makes it difficult to know how their circumstances might be improved. There is a need for further research into the health of Roma people with particular emphasis on non-communicable disease and for interventions that would improve their health

Late-Time Convection in the Collapse of a 23 Solar Mass Star

The results of a 3-dimensional SNSPH simulation of the core collapse of a 23 solar mass star are presented. This simulation did not launch an explosion until over 600ms after collapse, allowing an ideal opportunity to study the evolution and structure of the convection below the accretion shock to late times. This late-time convection allows us to study several of the recent claims in the literature about the role of convection: is it dominated by an l=1 mode driven by vortical-acoustic (or other) instability, does it produce strong neutron star kicks, and, finally, is it the key to a new explosion mechanism? The convective region buffets the neutron star, imparting a 150-200 km/s kick. Because the l=1 mode does not dominate the convection, the neutron star does not achieve large (>450 km/s) velocities. Finally, the neutron star in this simulation moves, but does not develop strong oscillations, the energy source for a recently proposed supernova engine. We discuss the implications these results have on supernovae, hypernovae (and gamma-ray bursts), and stellar-massed black holes.Comment: 31 pages (including 13 figures), submitted to Ap

Chemical equilibrium and stable stratification of a multi-component fluid: thermodynamics and application to neutron stars

A general thermodynamic argument shows that multi-component matter in full chemical equilibrium, with uniform entropy per baryon, is generally stably stratified. This is particularly relevant for neutron stars, in which the effects of entropy are negligible compared to those of the equilibrium composition gradient established by weak interactions. It can therefore be asserted that, regardless of the uncertainties in the equation of state of dense matter, neutron stars are stably stratified. This has important, previously discussed consequences for their oscillation modes, magnetic field evolution, and internal angular momentum transport.Comment: AASTeX, 8 pages, including 1 PS figure. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Instability and spatiotemporal rheochaos in a shear-thickening fluid model

We model a shear-thickening fluid that combines a tendency to form inhomogeneous, shear-banded flows with a slow relaxational dynamics for fluid microstructure. The interplay between these factors gives rich dynamics, with periodic regimes (oscillating bands, travelling bands, and more complex oscillations) and spatiotemporal rheochaos. These phenomena, arising from constitutive nonlinearity not inertia, can occur even when the steady-state flow curve is monotonic. Our model also shows rheochaos in a low-dimensional truncation where sharply defined shear bands cannot form

Ekman Pumping in Compact Astrophysical Bodies

We examine the dynamics of a rotating viscous fluid following an abrupt change in the angular velocity of the solid bounding surface. We include the effects of a density stratification and compressibility which are important in astrophysical objects such as neutron stars. We confirm and extend the conclusions of previous studies that stratification restricts the Ekman pumping process to a relatively thin layer near the boundary, leaving much of the interior fluid unaffected. We find that finite compressibility further inhibits Ekman pumping by decreasing the extent of the pumped layer and by increasing the time for spin-up. The results of this paper are important for interpreting the spin period discontinuities (``glitches'') observed in rotating neutron stars.Comment: Latex, 21 pages, 5 ps figures. Revised version includes extended discussion in the introduction and references to previous works. Various minor corrections and clarifications include

Models of Party Democracy : Patterns of Party Regulation in Post-War European Constitutions

This article investigates the ways in which political parties are codified in modern democratic constitutions, providing a unique cross-sectional and longitudinal overview of the patterns of party constitutionalization in post-war Europe. Although the constitutions of western liberal democracies traditionally have paid little attention to the role of parties, evidence suggests that in contemporary democracies, both old and new, they are increasingly accorded a formal constitutional status. Little is known, however, about the substantive content of their constitutional position or about the normative connotations of their constitutional codification. In this article, we demonstrate that there is a clear correlation between the nature and the intensity of party constitutionalization and the newness and historical experience of democracy and that, with time, the constitutional regulation of the extra-parliamentary organization and the parties’ rights and duties has gained in importance at the expense of their parliamentary and electoral roles. The analysis furthermore suggests that three distinct models of party constitutionalization can be identified – Defending Democracy, Parties in Public Office, and Parties as Public Utilities – each of which is related to a particular conception of party democracy