Crust breaking and the limiting rotational frequency of neutron stars

Understand

The limiting rotational frequency of neutron stars may be determined by the strength of their crusts.

• As a star spins up from accretion, centrifugal forces will cause the crust to fail.
• If the crust breaks unevenly, a rotating mass quadrupole moment will radiate gravitational waves (GW).
• This radiation can prevent further spin up and may be a promising source for continuous GW searches.