The role of differential rotation in the evolution of the r-mode instability

Abstract

We discuss the role of differential rotation in the evolution of the l=2 r-mode instability of a newly born, hot, rapidly-rotating neutron star. It is shown that the amplitude of the r-mode saturates in a natural way at a value that depends on the amount of differential rotation at the time the instability becomes active. It is also shown that, independently of the saturation amplitude of the mode, the star spins down to a rotation rate that is comparable to the inferred initial rotation rates of the fastest pulsars associated with supernova remnants.