Efficacy of magnetically driven temperature-dependent plastic flows in exciting the magnetosphere of CXOU J164710.2-455216

Abstract

Using verified transition state theory and quantum plasticity theory we calculate the temperature-dependent shear (strain) rates as well as temperature-dependent (shear) viscosity considering magnetically driven plastic flows in the neutron star (like CXOU J164710.2-455216) crust. Our numerical results which are based on previous works like the critical shear stress as well as the minimum shear (strain) rate of crust (around $1~\mbox{rad}/\mbox{year}$ ) demonstrate that a plastic deformation of the neutron star crust could induced a very slight twist (or shear) in the external magnetic field. We then extend Lander’s calculation of magnetospheric twist to slip-flow cases that will generated currents in the magnetosphere of the magnetar, say, CXOU J164710.2-455216 in Westerlund 1. The latter is believed to be the direct cause of the observed X-ray outburst by Muno et al. once we examine the associated energy scales for corresponding magnetic fields considering the age or history of CXOUJ164710.2-455216 which can be estimated from available measurements or observations. Our results and analysis of relevant energy scales confirm the onset of the soft gamma repeater outburst is controlled by magnetospheric dissipation induced by the plastic motions of the crust.