Neutron contribution to the force on a proton vortex in superconducting neutron-star matter
Phys. Rev. C 114, 015807 – Published 20 July, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/hgmj-2s35
Abstract
We investigate the forces acting on a proton vortex in superconducting neutron-star matter composed of neutrons, protons, and electrons, accounting for Fermi-liquid interactions in the neutron-proton subsystem. While the force arising from electron scattering by the vortex magnetic field is well known, we demonstrate that normal neutrons also exert a force on proton vortices due to Fermi-liquid coupling with superconducting protons. Using a kinetic approach based on Landau Fermi-liquid theory, we show that neutron quasiparticles scatter off a proton vortex through the spatially varying condensate momentum, giving rise to a longitudinal force proportional to the relative neutron-vortex velocity. In contrast with the electron contribution, this force has no transverse component and vanishes in the absence of neutron-proton Fermi-liquid interaction. Within a simple model, we analyze the main properties of this force and provide physically motivated estimates of its magnitude.
