A hydrogenic molecular atmosphere of a neutron star

Abstract

A model of a hydrogenic content of atmosphere of the isolated neutron star 1E1207.4-5209 is proposed. It is based on the assumption that the main component in the atmosphere is the exotic molecular ion $H_3^{2+}$ and that there exists a magnetic field in the range of $(4 \pm 2) \times 10^{14}$ G. Photoionization $H_3^{2+} \rar e + 3p$ and photodissociation $H_3^{2+} \rar H + 2p$ correspond to two absorption features at 0.7 KeV and 1.4 KeV, respectively, discovered by {\it Chandra} observatory (Sanwal et al, 2002). The model predicts one more absorption feature at 80-150 eV corresponding to photodissociation $H_3^{2+} \rar H_2^+ + p$.