SUPERFLUIDITY AND NEUTRON-STAR CRUST MATTER

In this work we study the properties of neutron star crusts, where mat ter is expected to consist of nuclei surrounded by superfluid neutrons and a homogeneous background of relativistic electrons. Using a moder n meson-exchange potential in the framework of a local-density approxi mation wt calculate the neutronic specific heat accounting for various nuclear shapes. We find that a realistic nucleon-nucleon potential le ads to an increase in the neutronic specific heat with respect to what is obtained with more phenomenological effective forces. The increase is largest for the nonspherical phase of the neutron star crust, The implications for the thermal history of young neutron stars are discus sed.