T-14

Ultra-magnetized plasma: equation of state and neutrino heating

Stephen Hardy (Max-Plank-Institut für Astrophysik, Garching)

Recent evidence for the existence of supercritical magnetic fields ( $B > 4 \times 10^{13}\,\mbox{G}$) near young neutron stars has forced the reevaluation of the role strong magnetic fields may play in the physics of core collapse supernovae and gamma ray bursts. The possibility of field strengths up to $10^{17}\,\mbox{G}$ has not yet been ruled out. Here, the equation of state of a magnetized thermal plasma at super critical field strengths is explored, and the field strengths at onset of a variety of interesting magnetic effects determined.

The implication of the change of the equation of state and the strong magnetic field to the rate of plasma heating through neutrino-antineutrino annihilation is also discussed.