QUARK MATTER IN NEUTRON STARS: AN APERÇU

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (26) ◽  
pp. 1965-1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
PRASHANTH JAIKUMAR ◽  
SANJAY REDDY ◽  
ANDREW W. STEINER

The existence of deconfined quark matter in the superdense interior of neutron stars is a key question that has drawn considerable attention over the past few decades. Quark matter can comprise an arbitrary fraction of the star, from 0 for a pure neutron star to 1 for a pure quark star, depending on the equation of state of matter at high density. From an astrophysical viewpoint, these two extreme cases are generally expected to manifest different observational signatures. An intermediate fraction implies a hybrid star, where the interior consists of mixed or homogeneous phases of quark and nuclear matter, depending on surface and Coulomb energy costs, as well as other finite size and screening effects. In this review, we discuss what we can deduce about quark matter in neutron stars in light of recent exciting developments in neutron star observations. We state the theoretical ideas underlying the equation of state of dense quark matter, including color superconducting quark matter. We also highlight recent advances stemming from re-examination of an old paradigm for the surface structure of quark stars and discuss possible evolutionary scenarios from neutron stars to quark stars, with emphasis on astrophysical observations.

2018 ◽  
Vol 620 ◽  
pp. A69 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Haskell ◽  
J. L. Zdunik ◽  
M. Fortin ◽  
M. Bejger ◽  
R. Wijnands ◽  
...  

Context. Rapidly rotating neutron stars are an ideal laboratory to test models of matter at high densities. In particular, the maximum rotation frequency of a neutron star depends on the equation of state and can be used to test models of the interior. However, observations of the spin distribution of rapidly rotating neutron stars show evidence for a lack of stars spinning at frequencies higher than f ≈ 700 Hz, well below the predictions of theoretical equations of state. This has generally been taken as evidence of an additional spin-down torque operating in these systems, and it has been suggested that gravitational wave torques may be operating and be linked to a potentially observable signal. Aims. We aim to determine whether additional spin-down torques (possibly due to gravitational wave emission) are necessary, or if the observed limit of f ≈ 700 Hz could correspond to the Keplerian (mass-shedding) break-up frequency for the observed systems, and is simply a consequence of the currently unknown state of matter at high densities. Methods. Given our ignorance with regard to the true equation of state of matter above nuclear saturation densities, we make a minimal physical assumption and only demand causality, that is, that the speed of sound in the interior of the neutron star should be lower than or equal to the speed of light c. We then connected our causally limited equation of state to a realistic microphysical crustal equation of state for densities below nuclear saturation density. This produced a limiting model that gave the lowest possible maximum frequency, which we compared to observational constraints on neutron star masses and frequencies. We also compared our findings with the constraints on the tidal deformability obtained in the observations of the GW170817 event. Results. We rule out centrifugal breakup as the mechanism preventing pulsars from spinning faster than f ≈ 700 Hz, as the lowest breakup frequency allowed by our causal equation of state is f ≈ 1200 Hz. A low-frequency cutoff, around f ≈ 800 Hz could only be possible when we assume that these systems do not contain neutron stars with masses above M ≈ 2 M⊙. This would have to be due either to selection effects, or possibly to a phase transition in the interior of the neutron star that leads to softening at high densities and a collapse to either a black hole or a hybrid star above M ≈ 2 M⊙. Such a scenario would, however, require a somewhat unrealistically stiff equation of state for hadronic matter, in tension with recent constraints obtained from gravitational wave observations of a neutron star merger.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 1760035
Author(s):  
Richard D. Mellinger ◽  
William Spinella ◽  
Fridolin Weber ◽  
Gustavo A. Contrera ◽  
Milva Orsaria

In this paper, we discuss the impact of rotation on the particle composition of rotating neutron stars (pulsars). Particular emphasis is put on the formation of quark matter during stellar spin-down, driven by continuous gravitational compression. Our study is based on modern models for the nuclear equation of state whose parameters are tightly constrained by nuclear data, neutron star masses, and the latest estimates of neutron star radii.


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (04) ◽  
pp. 1165-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRIDOLIN WEBER ◽  
MATTHEW MEIXNER ◽  
RODRIGO P. NEGREIROS ◽  
MANUEL MALHEIRO

With central densities way above the density of atomic nuclei, neutron stars contain matter in one of the densest forms found in the universe. Depending of the density reached in the cores of neutron stars, they may contain stable phases of exotic matter found nowhere else in space. This article gives a brief overview of the phases of ultra-dense matter predicted to exist deep inside neutron stars and discusses the equation of state (EoS) associated with such matter.


1994 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mishra ◽  
H. Mishra ◽  
P. K. Panda ◽  
S. P. Misra

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (04) ◽  
pp. 1750015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeunhwan Lim ◽  
Chang Ho Hyun ◽  
Chang-Hwan Lee

In this paper, we investigate the cooling of neutron stars with relativistic and nonrelativistic models of dense nuclear matter. We focus on the effects of uncertainties originated from the nuclear models, the composition of elements in the envelope region, and the formation of superfluidity in the core and the crust of neutron stars. Discovery of [Formula: see text] neutron stars PSR J1614−2230 and PSR J0343[Formula: see text]0432 has triggered the revival of stiff nuclear equation of state at high densities. In the meantime, observation of a neutron star in Cassiopeia A for more than 10 years has provided us with very accurate data for the thermal evolution of neutron stars. Both mass and temperature of neutron stars depend critically on the equation of state of nuclear matter, so we first search for nuclear models that satisfy the constraints from mass and temperature simultaneously within a reasonable range. With selected models, we explore the effects of element composition in the envelope region, and the existence of superfluidity in the core and the crust of neutron stars. Due to uncertainty in the composition of particles in the envelope region, we obtain a range of cooling curves that can cover substantial region of observation data.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (06) ◽  
pp. 1750034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Feng Xu ◽  
Yan-An Luo ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Guang-Xiong Peng

The properties of dense quark matter are investigated in the perturbation theory with a rapidly convergent matching-invariant running coupling. The fast convergence is mainly due to the resummation of an infinite number of known logarithmic terms in a compact form. The only parameter in this model, the ratio of the renormalization subtraction point to the chemical potential, is restricted to be about 2.64 according to the Witten–Bodmer conjecture, which gives the maximum mass and the biggest radius of quark stars to be, respectively, two times the solar mass and 11.7[Formula: see text]km.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S291) ◽  
pp. 536-536
Author(s):  
Martin Urbanec ◽  
John Miller ◽  
Zdenek Stuchlik

AbstractWe present quadrupole moments of rotating neutron and strange stars calculated using standard Hartle Thorne approach. We demonstrate differences between neutron and strange star parameters connected with quadrupole moments and how this parameters could be, in the case of neutron stars, approximated almost independently on neutron star equation of state.


Universe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 470
Author(s):  
Valentin Allard ◽  
Nicolas Chamel

Temperature and velocity-dependent 1S0 pairing gaps, chemical potentials and entrainment matrix in dense homogeneous neutron–proton superfluid mixtures constituting the outer core of neutron stars, are determined fully self-consistently by solving numerically the time-dependent Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov equations over the whole range of temperatures and flow velocities for which superfluidity can exist. Calculations have been made for npeμ in beta-equilibrium using the Brussels–Montreal functional BSk24. The accuracy of various approximations is assessed and the physical meaning of the different velocities and momentum densities appearing in the theory is clarified. Together with the unified equation of state published earlier, the present results provide consistent microscopic inputs for modeling superfluid neutron-star cores.


1971 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 341-345
Author(s):  
G. Chanmugam ◽  
M. Gabriel

The Nemeth-Sprung equation of state is modified and used to obtain neutron star models. Contrary to the results of some authors it is found that neutron stars with central densities ≲ 1014 g cm-3 are dynamically stable. It is suggested that some pulsars may belong to this category of stars.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 2041015
Author(s):  
John L. Friedman ◽  
Nikolaos Stergioulas

The first inspiral of two neutron stars observed in gravitational waves was remarkably close, allowing the kind of simultaneous gravitational wave and electromagnetic observation that had not been expected for several years. Their merger, followed by a gamma-ray burst and a kilonova, was observed across the spectral bands of electromagnetic telescopes. These GW and electromagnetic observations have led to dramatic advances in understanding short gamma-ray bursts; determining the origin of the heaviest elements; and determining the maximum mass of neutron stars. From the imprint of tides on the gravitational waveforms and from observations of X-ray binaries, one can extract the radius and deformability of inspiraling neutron stars. Together, the radius, maximum mass, and causality constrain the neutron-star equation of state, and future constraints can come from observations of post-merger oscillations. We selectively review these results, filling in some of the physics with derivations and estimates.


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