Entrainment parameters in cold superfluid neutron star core

Abstract

Hydrodynamical simulations of neutron star cores, based on a two fluid description in terms of a neutron-proton superfluid mixture, require the knowledge of the Andreev-Bashkin entrainment matrix which relates the momentum of one constituent to the currents of both constituents. This matrix is derived for arbitrary nuclear asymmetry at zero temperature and in the limits of small relative currents in the framework of the energy density functional theory. The Skyrme energy density functional is considered as a particular case. General analytic formulae for the entrainment parameters and various corresponding effective masses are obtained. These formulae are applied to the liquid core of a neutron star, composed of an homogeneous plasma of nucleons, electrons and possibly muons in beta equilibrium.