GENERAL RELATIVISTIC EFFECTS OF STRONG MAGNETIC FIELDS ON THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE: A DRIVING ENGINE FOR BURSTS OF GAMMA RAYS IN SGRS?

Abstract

In General Relativity, all forms of energy contribute to gravity and not only just ordinary matter as in Newtonian Physics. This fact can be seen in the modified hydrostatic equilibrium equation for relativistic stars pervaded by magnetic (B) fields. It has an additional term coupled to the matter part as well as an anisotropic term which is purely of magnetic origin. That additional term coming from the pressure changed by the radial component of the diagonal electromagnetic field tensor weakens the gravitational force when B is strong enough and can even produce an unexpected change in the attractive nature of the force by reversing its sign. In an extreme case, this new general relativistic (GR) effect can even trigger an instability in the star as a consequence of the sudden reversal of the hydrostatic pressure gradient. We suggest here that this GR effect may be the possible central engine driving the transient giant outbursts observed in Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs). In small regions of the neutron star (NS), strong magnetic condensation can take place. Beyond a critical limit, these highly magnetized bubbles may explode releasing the trapped energy as a burst of γ-rays of ~1036–40 erg.