Gravitational Field Strength of a Neutron Star: Rotation & Heat Impact

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the gravitational field strength of neutron stars, particularly considering the effects of rotation and heat. Participants explore theoretical implications and mathematical formulations related to these factors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that while neutron stars are very massive and dense, their rotation contributes only a small amount to their gravitational field strength, with the fastest rotating stars reaching speeds close to 0.1c.
  • Another participant suggests defining heat in terms of the decrease in gravitational mass over time as a neutron star radiates energy, proposing that this contribution is likely small.
  • There is a discussion about the potential contraction of a neutron star leading to gravitational energy release, which may also relate to heat contributions.
  • One participant introduces the concept of the energy-momentum tensor in Einstein's equations, suggesting that the Kerr-Metric may need to be adjusted to account for additional terms due to matter presence.
  • Another participant argues for a broader definition of heat that includes any energy radiated away until equilibrium with a cold reservoir, proposing that this could apply to exotic bodies like neutron stars.
  • A reference to black hole thermodynamics is made, indicating that spin and charge may contribute to gravitational effects, and relating pressure to gravitational field strength through an algebraic interpretation of Einstein's law of gravity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the contributions of rotation and heat to gravitational field strength, with no consensus reached on the significance of these factors. Some agree that heat's contribution is likely small, while others propose broader definitions and implications.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in defining heat and its contributions, as well as the complexities involved in measuring gravitational effects in rapidly rotating and hot neutron stars.

povillsss
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
So let's say we have a neutron star. A neutron star is very massive and very dense therefore it has a very strong gravitational field. But also it is rotating very fast and it really hot. This means it has more energy than if it was stationary and cold. Of course if this neutron star has more energy its gravitational field strength must also be stronger. I'm wondering by how much? If you could give me some formulae that would be great :D

P.S. first time writing.
Sorry for my bad English I'm not a native speaker.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to the forums!

Rotation is a small contribution. The fastest neutron stars rotate at about 500 revolutions per second. With a radius of roughly 10 kilometers, this gives them an outer speed if 30000km/s or .1c. You can calculate the Lorentz-factor for this speed, it is very close to 1 (where 1 is "just mass contributes").

Heat is problematic to define - the inside does not follow the classical "this is cold matter, we can heat it up to get warm matter" pattern.
 
Well, for heat, one possible definition is the the decrease in gravitational mass measured by orbital testers between a 'new' neutron star, and the same star if if were isolated and allowed to radiative for e.g. 10 billion years (or reach equlibrium with CMB - its radiation being essentially indistinguishable from CMB).

I think the answer is that the contribution of head defined this way, to the mass of a new neutron star, is small. I don't have any numbers though.
 
PAllen said:
Well, for heat, one possible definition is the the decrease in gravitational mass measured by orbital testers between a 'new' neutron star, and the same star if if were isolated and allowed to radiative for e.g. 10 billion years (or reach equlibrium with CMB - its radiation being essentially indistinguishable from CMB).

I think the answer is that the contribution of head defined this way, to the mass of a new neutron star, is small. I don't have any numbers though.
That's probably a good approach. But then you might get contraction (and therefore the release of gravitational energy) as another contribution.

I agree that the heat contribution by this definition is probably small.
 
Well the energy density and stuff enter the Energy momentum tensor in Einstein's equation.
The metric is the Kerr-Metric +a term which is due to the existence of matter, and so I think you have to solve for G_{\mu \nu} = a T_{\mu \nu} to find this extra term...although that's somewhat perturbative.
 
mfb said:
That's probably a good approach. But then you might get contraction (and therefore the release of gravitational energy) as another contribution.

I agree that the heat contribution by this definition is probably small.

I'd be perfectly willing to accept 'gravitational heat'. Contraction does lead to heating in normal bodies, which then may be radiated. If in a more extreme regime, you get some direct GW emission, so what? I could also argue that what initially keeps a body un-contracted is some form of 'heat', so it is being converted to GW.

I don't mean to push this too far, just argue that if you accept by heat 'any energy (all forms) that radiates away until equilibrium with a very cold reservoir', then you can discuss heat for content for exotic bodies, and the corresponding mass equivalent (measured via influence on test bodies at great distance - to abstract from frame dragging effects of high rotation).
 
Last edited:
When considering black hole thermodynamics, spin and charge can contribute the BHs gravity-

dM=\frac{\kappa}{8\pi}\,dA\,+\,\Omega\,dJ\,+\,\Phi\,dQ

where the first term is related to irreducible mass- M_{ir}=\sqrt(A/16\pi), the second to rotation- J and the third to charge- Q. The irreducible mass would be mass left if both the properties of spin and charge were extracted from the black hole so it's not too much of a stretch to say that spin and heat contribute to the gravity of a neutron star. Pressure would also make a contribution to the gravity field. A basic algebraic interpretation of Einsteins law of gravity is g=\rho c^2+3P where \rho is density and P is pressure, also pressure can be described as being synonymous with energy density.

Source-
Black Hole Thermodynamics by Narit Pidokrajt
http://www.physto.se/~narit/bh.pdf pages 9-12
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 44 ·
2
Replies
44
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K