Damping of differential rotation in neutron stars

Abstract

We derive the transport relaxation times for quasiparticle-vortex scattering processes via nuclear force, relevant for the damping of differential rotation of superfluids in the quantum liquid core of a neutron star. The proton scattering off the neutron vortices provides the dominant resistive force on the vortex lattice at all relevant temperatures in the phase where neutrons only are in the paired state. If protons are superconducting, a small fraction of hyperons and resonances in the normal state would be the dominant source of friction on neutron and proton vortex lattices at the core temperatures $T\ge 10^{7}$ K.