The cooling of the Cassiopeia A neutron star as a probe of a triplet neutron pairing in the core

Abstract

The observed rapid cooling of the Cassiopeia A neutron star (Cas A NS) can be interpreted as being triggered by the onset of neutron superfluidity in the core of the star, causing enhanced neutrino emission from neutron Cooper pair breaking and formation (PBF). This provides a unique possibility for probing the neutron condensate in the core. Using consistent neutron star core and crust equation of state and composition, I explore the sensitivity of this interpretation to the phase state of the triplet superfluid condensate. Modeling cooling within an expected range of neutron star masses and envelope compositions, I found that the fast cooling of the Cas A NS can not be explained by the PBF processes in the conventional ${}^3$P${}_2$ condensate with $m_j=0$.

Comments: This paper has been withdrawn by the author due to loss of relevance