The observed thermal relaxation of transiently accreting neutron stars during quiescence periods in low-mass X-ray binaries suggests the existence of unknown heat sources in the shallow layers of neutron-star crust. Making use of existing experimental nuclear data, we estimate the maximum possible amount of heat that can be deposited in the outer crust of an accreting neutron star due to electron captures and pycnonuclear fusion reactions triggered by the burial of X-ray burst ashes.

中文翻译：

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沉积中子星结壳中浅层加热的实验约束

在低质量X射线双星静止期间观察到的瞬态积聚的中子星的热弛豫表明，在中子星壳的浅层中存在未知的热源。利用现有的实验核数据，我们估计由于X射线爆炸性灰烬的掩埋引发的电子俘获和透明核聚变反应，在积聚中子星外壳中可能沉积的最大热量。