Ohmic Decay of Magnetic Fields Generated by Currents in the Crusts of Neutron Stars

Abstract

We consider the decay of magnetic fields in neutron stars for configurations in which the electrical currents generating the field are confined to the crust. We show that, even if the electrical conductivity in the inner crust were poor, the characteristic time for decay of the field would be many times the characteristic time for decay of the field when the field is confined to the crust. © 1995 The American Astronomical Society.