Magnetic field evolution of accreting neutron stars - III

Abstract

The evolutionary scenario of the neutron star magnetic field is examined assuming a spindown-induced expulsion of magnetic flux originally confined to the core, in which case the expelled flux undergoes ohmic decay. The nature of field evolution, for accreting neutron stars, is investigated incorporating the crustal microphysics and material movement due to accretion. This scenario explains the observed field strengths of neutron stars but only if the crustal lattice contains a large amount of impurity which is in direct contrast to the models that assume an original crustal field.