Time-Dependent Superfluid Band Theory for the Inner Crust of Neutron Stars: Current Status and Future Challenges

Abstract

In this contribution, current status and future prospects of our ongoing project is summarized. In the inner crust of neutron stars, a variety of crystalline structures may emerge, as a result of competition of Coulomb and nuclear interactions, which are immersed in a sea of superfluid neutrons. The best quantum mechanical approach to study properties of dripped neutrons under a periodic potential is the band theory of solids. Concerning the band structure effects on transport properties of neutrons, however, situation is complicated and there has not been established a clear consensus yet. To provide a robust conclusion on the band structure effects, we have developed a fully-microscopic time-dependent band theory based on time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), taking full account of Fermionic superfluditiy. We have successfully developed a parallel computational code and applied it to the slab phase of nuclear matter. We introduce ongoing works and discuss possible future directions.