Adiabatic Index of Dense Matter and Damping of Neutron Star Pulsations

Abstract

The adiabatic index Gamma_1 for perturbations of dense matter is studied under various physical conditions which can prevail in neutron star cores. The dependence of Gamma_1 on the composition of matter (in particular, on the presence of hyperons), on the stellar pulsation amplitude, and on the baryon superfluidity is analyzed. Timescales of damping of stellar pulsations are estimated at different compositions, temperatures, and pulsation amplitudes. Damping of pulsations by bulk viscosity in the neutron-star cores can prevent the stars to pulsate with relative amplitudes > (1-15)% (depending on the composition of matter).

5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A&A