Role of strongly magnetized crusts in torsional shear modes of magnetars

Abstract

We study the influence of magnetised crusts on torsional shear mode oscillations of magnetars. In this context, we employ magnetised crusts whose ground state properties are affected by Landau quantisation of electrons. The shear modulus of magnetised crusts is enhanced in strong magnetic fields $\geq 10^{17}$ G. Though we do not find any appreciable change in frequencies of fundamental torsional shear modes, frequencies of first overtones are significantly affected in strong magnetic fields. Furthermore, frequencies of torsional shear modes calculated with magnetised crusts are in good agreement with frequencies of observed quasi-periodic oscillations.