Almost Analytic Models of Ultramagnetized Neutron Star Envelopes

Abstract

Recent ROSAT measurements show that the x-ray emission from isolated neutron stars is modulated at the stellar rotation period. To interpret these measurements, one needs precise calculations of the heat transfer through the thin insulating envelopes of neutron stars. We present nearly analytic models of the thermal structure of the envelopes of ultramagnetized neutron stars. Specifically, we examine the limit in which only the ground Landau level is filled. We use the models to estimate the amplitude of modulation expected from non-uniformities in the surface temperatures of strongly magnetized neutron stars. In addition, we estimate cooling rates for stars with fields $B \sim 10^{15}-10^{16}$ G which are relevant to models that invoke ``magnetars'' to account for soft $γ$-ray emission from some repeating sources.