Core-collapse Supernova Simulations and the Formation of Neutron Stars, Hybrid Stars, and Black Holes

We investigate observable signatures of a first-order quantum chromodynamics (QCD) phase transition in the context of core-collapse supernovae. To this end, we conduct axially symmetric numerical relativity simulations with multi-energy neutrino transport, using a hadron–quark hybrid equation of state (EOS). We consider four nonrotating progenitor models, whose masses range from 9.6 to 70 M ⊙. We find that the two less-massive progenitor stars (9.6 and 11.2 M ⊙) show a successful explosion, which is driven by the neutrino heating. They do not undergo the QCD phase transition and leave behind a neutron star. As for the more massive progenitor stars (50 and 70 M ⊙), the proto-neutron star (PNS) core enters the phase transition region and experiences the second collapse. Because of a sudden stiffening of the EOS entering to the pure quark matter regime, a strong shock wave is formed and blows off the PNS envelope in the 50 M ⊙ model. Consequently the remnant becomes a quark core surrounded by hadronic matter, leading to the formation of the hybrid star. However, for the 70 M ⊙ model, the shock wave cannot overcome the continuous mass accretion and it readily becomes a black hole. We find that the neutrino and gravitational wave (GW) signals from supernova explosions driven by the hadron–quark phase transition are detectable for the present generation of neutrino and GW detectors. Furthermore, the analysis of the GW detector response reveals unique kHz signatures, which will allow us to distinguish this class of supernova explosions from failed and neutrino-driven explosions.

Identifying QCD Phase Transitions via the Gravitational Wave Frequency from a Supernova Explosion

We investigate the nonradial oscillations of newly born neutron stars (NSs) and strange quark stars (SQSs). This is done with the relativistic nuclear field theory with hyperon degrees of freedom employed to describe the equation of state (EoS) for the stellar matter in NSs, and with both the MIT bag model and the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model adopted to construct the configurations of the SQSs. We find that the gravitational-mode (g-mode) eigenfrequencies of newly born SQSs are significantly lower than those of NSs, which is independent of models implemented to describe the EoS for the strange quark matter. Meanwhile, the eigenfrequencies of the other modes of nonradial oscillations, e.g., fundamental (f)- and pressure (p)-modes, are much larger than those of the g-mode, and are related to the stiffness of the EoSs. In light of the first direct observation of gravitational waves (GWs), it is promising to employ GWs to identify the QCD phase transition in high-density strong-interaction matter.

Thermal QCD Axions across Thresholds

Thermal axion production in the early universe goes through several mass thresholds, and the resulting rate may change dramatically across them. Focusing on the KSVZ and DFSZ frameworks for the invisible QCD axion, we perform a systematic analysis of thermal production across thresholds and provide smooth results for the rate. The QCD phase transition is an obstacle for both classes of models. For the hadronic KSVZ axion, we also deal with production at temperatures around the mass of the heavy-colored fermion charged under the Peccei-Quinn symmetry. Within the DFSZ framework, standard model fermions are charged under this symmetry, and additional thresholds are the heavy Higgs bosons masses and the electroweak phase transition. We investigate the cosmological implications with a specific focus on axion dark radiation quantified by an effective number of neutrino species and explore the discovery reach of future CMB-S4 surveys.