Vortex unpinning in precessing neutron stars
Vortex unpinning in precessing neutron stars
The neutron vortices thought to exist in the inner crust of a neutron star interact with nuclei and are expected to pin to the nuclear lattice. Evidence for long-period precession in pulsars, however, requires that pinning be negligible. We estimate the strength of vortex pinning and show that hydrodynamic forces …