The nucleonic thermal conductivity of “pastas” in neutron star matter

Abstract

This investigation explores the nucleonic thermal conductivity of nuclear star matter as it undergoes the “topological” transition to the “pasta” regime, and further down to the solid-liquid phase transition. The study was carried out using molecular dynamics simulations with nuclear potentials embedded in an effective (i.e. Thomas-Fermi) Coulomb potential. The nucleonic thermal conductivity experiences a dramatic change within a narrow temperature interval around T≃1 MeV. This change accompanies the “pasta” breakdown during a heating process. The nucleonic thermal conductivity, by flipping protons' or neutrons' velocity, further shows a decoupling for asymmetric nuclear star matter.