Neutron Star Atmospheres

Abstract

Properties of the thermal radiation emitted by neutron stars (NSs) are determined by thin plasma layers (atmospheres) at their surfaces. The NS atmospheres are very different from those of usual stars due to the immense gravity and huge magnetic fields. Current models of hydrogen NS atmospheres show that the spectra deviate substantially from blackbody spectra of the same temperatures. Comparison of the model spectra with recent observations of soft X-ray and UV-optical radiation of NSs yields the surface temperatures considerably lower than those obtained from the blackbody fits. This conclusion have important implications for theories of NS cooling and for understanding fundamental properties of the superdense matter in the NS interiors.