Hall equilibria with toroidal and poloidal fields: application to neutron stars

Abstract

We present solutions for Hall equilibria applicable to neutron star crusts. Such magnetic configurations satisfy a Grad–Shafranov-type equation, which is solved analytically and numerically. The solutions presented cover a variety of configurations, from purely poloidal fields connected to an external dipole to poloidal–toroidal fields connected to an external vacuum field, or fully confined within the star.We find that a dipole external field should be supported by a uniformly rotating electron fluid. The energy of the toroidal magnetic field is generally found to be a few per cent of the total magnetic field energy for the fields with an external component. We discuss the evolution due to Ohmic dissipation which leads to slowing down of the electron fluid. We also find that the transition from an MHD equilibrium to a state governed by Hall effect generates spontaneously an additional toroidal field in regions where the electron fraction changes.