Interaction between vortices and nuclei in the inner crust of neutron stars

The inner crust of a neutron star is expected to contain a Coulomb lattice of nuclei immersed in a superfluid sea of free neutrons. The rotation of the star induces the formation of vortices in the neutron sea, whose dynamics is influenced by the interaction with the nuclei. In particular, this interaction is important to determine whether it is energetically advantageous for vortices to pin on nuclei or not. We find that the pinning energy is sensitive to quantal size effects. In fact, the nuclear shell structure tends to hinder the formation of vortices inside the nuclear volume.