Neutrino-pair bremsstrahlung in dense stars. I - Liquid metal case

Abstract

Neutrino-pair bremsstrahlung rate is calculated in the framework of the Weinberg-Salam theory for the dense matter relevant to the interior of white dwarfs and neutron stars. The ionic correlation in the liquid state and dielectric screening of the Coulomb interaction due to degenerate electrons are accurately taken into account. It is found that the ionic correlation in the liquid state reduces the neutrino-pair bremsstrahlung rate typically by a factor 2-20 depending on the element and temperature. The results of the numerical calculation are fitted by analytic formulae in order to facilitate applications.