Generalized inverse-Cowling approximation for polar w-mode oscillations of neutron stars

Adopting the Lindblom-Detweiler formalism for polar oscillations of neutron stars, we study the w-mode oscillation and find that the Lagrangian change in pressure, measured by the physical quantity X, is negligibly small. Based on this observation, we develop the generalized inverse-Cowling approximation ( GICA) with the approximation X = X' = 0, where X' is the derivative of X with respect to the circumferential radius for w-mode oscillations of neutron stars. Under the GICA, w-mode oscillations are described by a second-order differential system, which can yield accurate frequencies and damping rates of quasi-normal modes.