Nuclear structure in strong magnetic fields: Nuclei in the crust of a magnetar

Abstract

Covariant density functional theory is used to study the effect of strong magnetic fields, up to the limit predicted for neutron stars (for magnetars $B\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{18}$ G), on nuclear structure. All new terms in the equation of motion resulting from time-reversal symmetry breaking by the magnetic field and the induced currents, as well as axial deformation, are taken into account in a self-consistent fashion. For nuclei in the iron region of the nuclear chart it is found that fields on the order of magnitude of ${10}^{17}$ G significantly affect bulk properties such as masses and radii.