On the excitation of f-modes and torsional modes by magnetar giant flares

Abstract

Magnetar giant flares may excite vibrational modes of neutron stars. Here we compute an estimate of initial post-flare amplitudes of both the torsional modes in the magnetar's crust and of the global f-modes. We show that while the torsional crustal modes can be strongly excited, only a small fraction of the flare's energy is converted directly into the lowest-order f-modes. For a conventional model of a magnetar, with the external magnetic field of about 10^{15} Gauss, the gravitational-wave detection of these f-modes with advanced LIGO is unlikely.