Elasticity of neutron star mantle: impact of neutron adsorption

The elastic modulus of the neutron star mantle, associated with a change in intercluster distances, is calculated within the framework of the thermodynamically consistent compressible liquid drop model. It is demonstrated that the neutron adsorption on the surfaces of nucleon clusters results in a $\sim$10–20% change in the elastic modulus within the typical range of average nucleon number densities characteristic of the neutron star mantle.