Frictionless Superfluid Found In Neutron Star Core

intellitech writes "NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered the first direct evidence for a superfluid, a bizarre, friction-free state of matter, at the core of a neutron star (abstract). Superfluids created in laboratories on Earth exhibit remarkable properties, such as the ability to climb upward and escape airtight containers. The finding has important implications for understanding nuclear interactions in matter at the highest known densities."

Re:Nutron Star?

[$RANDOMLUSER]

Actually, it is. Remember, it takes a photon emitted by a fusion reaction reaction at the suns core tens of thousands of years to make its way to the surface of the sun, because it is reabsorbed and re-emitted so often. The fact that Cas A can be of a uniform temperature and that the temperature can change so rapidly is pretty good "direct" evidence for a superfluid. Besides, a neutron star is essentially one giant molecule anyways, since in degenerate matter protons, neutrons and electrons are pretty much in direct contact, without any "atomic" or "molecular" structure.

Re:Useless

[Anonymous Coward]

There's no problem here, since pounds are units of force :)

Little-g is quite large near a neutron star.

Re:Nutron Star?

[RsG]

Besides, a neutron star is essentially one giant molecule anyways, since in degenerate matter protons, neutrons and electrons are pretty much in direct contact, without any "atomic" or "molecular" structure.

Respectfully, this isn't correct. The core of a neutron star is indeed degenerate matter, but it's exclusively neutron degenerate matter, with a complete lack of protons or electrons. Every particle is a neutron, with no space at all in between them. Calling it a giant molecule is not accurate in any interpretation I can think of. I have heard of neutron star cores described as one giant atomic nucleus, which is slightly more accurate (in that it's made of subatomic particles in direct contact with each other), though actual nuclei are held together by nuclear force instead of gravity.

Now, the outer layers of a neutron star are made of electron degenerate matter with a thin surface of highly compressed regular matter. That fact may have been where you got the "protons, neutrons and electrons" part of your post - there are no protons or electrons in the interior, but they are present in the outer layers. Which, while interesting, doesn't really matter in regards to TFA, as they observed evidence of a superfluid core, and the core is nothing but neutrons.