Biomedical subjects

G L Comer

Publications and source records attributed to G L Comer.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Are pulsar glitches triggered by a superfluid two-stream instability?

Mature neutron stars are expected to have several superfluid components. Strong evidence for this is provided by the glitches that have been observed in dozens of pulsars. We describe a superfluid analog of the two-stream instability that is well known in plasma physics and provide arguments that this instability is likely to be relevant for neutron stars. This is a new physical mechanism which may play a key role in explaining the glitch mechanism and which could also prove to be relevant in laboratory experiments on various superfluid systems.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Probing neutron-star superfluidity with gravitational-wave data.

We discuss the possibility that future gravitational-wave detectors may be able to detect various modes of oscillation of old, cold neutron stars. We argue that such detections would provide unique insights into the superfluid nature of neutron-star cores, and could also lead to a much improved understanding of pulsar glitches. Our estimates are based on a detector configuration with several narrow-band (cryogenic) interferometers operating as a "xylophone" which could lead to high sensitivity at high frequencies. We also draw on recent advances in our understanding of the dynamics of pulsating superfluid neutron-star cores.

Journal Article↗