Nucleonic Equation Of State Research Articles

Symmetry energy in the KIDS framework and extension to quarkionic matter

Recent and ongoing laboratory experiments on nuclei and astronomical observations of neutron stars and gravitational waves offer valuable information on the symmetry energy and its dependence on the baryonic density ρ, S(ρ). Analytical models abound for the behavior of S(ρ) in the nucleonic regime. At high densities, however, extrapolations from the nucleonic regime become unreliable and the functional form of S(ρ) should be properly adjusted. Conveniently, the pseudoconformal symmetry emergent in dense, topologically altered nuclear matter suggests a simple expression for the energy per baryon in terms of ρ. Here, I consider a rudimentary interpolation between the Korea-IBS-Daegu-SKKU (KIDS) nucleonic equation of state (EoS) and a pseudo-conformal one at zero temperature. I assume for simplicity that the conformal limit is reached abruptly, but under continuous energy and pressure. Application to neutron stars suggestes that a crossover to quarkionic matter can lead to more compact stars or even heavier stars, depending on the precise form of the nucleonic EoS and on the order of the transition to quarkionic matter. These results are in line with previous studies of hybrid EoSs and represent only a “baby step” to further explorations with hybrid-KIDS EoSs.

Bayesian inference of signatures of hyperons inside neutron stars

The possible signatures of the presence of hyperons inside neutron stars are discussed within a Bayesian inference framework applied to a set of models based on a density-dependent relativistic mean-field description of hadronic matter. Nuclear matter properties, hypernuclei properties, and observational information are used to constrain the models. General properties of neutron stars such as the maximum mass, radius, tidal deformability, proton fraction, hyperon fraction, and speed of sound are discussed. It is shown that the two solar mass constraint imposes that neutron stars described by equations of state that include hyperons have on average a larger radius, $\gtrsim 0.5$km, and a larger tidal deformability, $\gtrsim 150$, than the stars determined from a nucleonic equation of state, while the speed of sound at the center of the star is more than 25\% smaller. If a 1.4 M$_\odot$ star with a radius $\lesssim 12.5$ km is measured it is quite improbable that a massive star described by the same model contains hyperons. A similar conclusion is drawn if a two solar mass star with a radius $\lesssim 11.5$ km or a neutron star with a mass above 2.2 M$_\odot$ is observed: the possible hyperon content of these stars is ruled out or very reduced. The hyperon presence inside neutron stars is compatible with the present NICER mass-radius observations of the pulsars PSR J0030+0451 and PSR J0740+6620 and the gravitational wave detection GW170817. {It is shown that if the polytropic index $\gamma=\partial\ln p/\partial\ln\epsilon$ takes values of the order of 1.75 at not too large densities, it may indicate the onset of some kind of exotic matter, but not necessarily of deconfined quark matter.

Universal relations for rapidly rotating cold and hot hybrid stars

ABSTRACT Several global parameters of compact stars are related via empirical relations, which are (nearly) independent of the underlying equation of state (EoS) of dense matter and, therefore, are said to be universal. We investigate the universality of relations that express the maximum mass and the radius of non-rotating and maximally rapidly rotating configurations, as well as their moment of inertia, in terms of the compactness of the star. For this, we first utilize a collection of cold (zero-temperature) and hot (isentropic) nucleonic EoS and confirm that the universal relations are holding for our collection of EoS. We then go on, to add to our collection and test for the same universality models of EoS that admit a strong first-order phase transition from nucleonic to deconfined quark matter. Also in this case we find that the universal relations hold, in particular for hot, isentropic hybrid stars. By fitting the universal relations to our computed data, we determine the coefficients entering these relations and the accuracy to which they hold.

GW190814: Impact of a 2.6 solar mass neutron star on the nucleonic equations of state

Is the secondary component of GW190814 the lightest black hole or the heaviest neutron star ever discovered in a double compact-object system [R. Abbott et al., ApJ Lett., 896, L44 (2020)]? This is the central question animating this letter. Covariant density functional theory provides a unique framework to investigate both the properties of finite nuclei and neutron stars, while enforcing causality at all densities. By tuning existing energy density functionals we were able to: (a) account for a 2.6 Msun neutron star, (b) satisfy the original constraint on the tidal deformability of a 1.4 Msun neutron star, and (c) reproduce ground-state properties of finite nuclei. Yet, for the class of models explored in this work, we find that the stiffening of the equation of state required to support super-massive neutron stars is inconsistent with either constraints obtained from energetic heavy-ion collisions or from the low deformability of medium-mass stars. Thus, we speculate that the maximum neutron star mass can not be significantly higher than the existing observational limit and that the 2.6 Msun compact object is likely to be the lightest black hole ever discovered.

EQUATION OF STATE FOR NUCLEONIC AND HYPERONIC NEUTRON STARS WITH MASS AND RADIUS CONSTRAINTS

ABSTRACT We obtain a new equation of state for the nucleonic and hyperonic inner core of neutron stars that fulfils the 2 M ⊙ observations as well as the recent determinations of stellar radii below 13 km. The nucleonic equation of state is obtained from a new parameterization of the FSU2 relativistic mean-field functional that satisfies these latest astrophysical constraints and, at the same time, reproduces the properties of nuclear matter and finite nuclei while fulfilling the restrictions on high-density matter deduced from heavy-ion collisions. On the one hand, the equation of state of neutron star matter is softened around saturation density, which increases the compactness of canonical neutron stars leading to stellar radii below 13 km. On the other hand, the equation of state is stiff enough at higher densities to fulfil the 2 M ⊙ limit. By a slight modification of the parameterization, we also find that the constraints of 2 M ⊙ neutron stars with radii around 13 km are satisfied when hyperons are considered. The inclusion of the high magnetic fields present in magnetars further stiffens the equation of state. Hyperonic magnetars with magnetic fields in the surface of ∼1015 G and with values of ∼1018 G in the interior can reach maximum masses of 2 M ⊙ with radii in the 12–13 km range.

Phase transitions in dense matter and the maximum mass of neutron stars

The recent precise measurement of the mass of pulsar PSR J1614$-$2230, as well as observational indications of even more massive neutron stars, has revived the question of the composition of matter at the high densities prevailing inside neutron-star cores. We study the impact on the maximum possible neutron-star mass of an "exotic" core consisting of non-nucleonic matter. For this purpose, we study the occurrence of a first-order phase transition in nucleonic matter. Given the current lack of knowledge of non-nucleonic matter, we consider the stiffest possible equation of state subject only to the constraints of causality and thermodynamic stability. The case of a hadron-quark phase transition is discussed separately. The purely nucleonic matter is described using a set of unified equations of state that have been recently developed to permit a consistent treatment of both homogeneous and inhomogeneous phases. We then compute the mass-radius relation of cold nonaccreting neutron stars with and without exotic cores from the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations. We find that even if there is a significant softening of the equation of state associated with the actual transition to an exotic phase, there can still be a stiffening at higher densities closer to the center of the star that is sufficient to increase the maximum possible mass. However with quarks the maximum neutron-star mass is always reduced by assuming that the sound speed is limited by $c/\sqrt{3}$ as suggested by QCD calculations. In particular, by invoking such a phase transition, it becomes possible to support PSR J1614$-$2230 with a nucleonic equation of state that is soft enough to be compatible with the kaon and pion production in heavy-ion collisions.

Hyperons in neutron-star cores and a 2 M⊙pulsar

Recent measurement of mass of PSR J1614-2230 rules out most of existing models of equation of state (EOS) of dense matter with high-density softening due to hyperonization or a phase transition to quark matter or a boson condensate. We look for a solution of an apparent contradiction between the consequences stemming from up-to-date hypernuclear data, indicating appearance of hyperons at 3 nuclear densities and existence of a two-solar-mass neutron star. We consider a non-linear relativistic mean field (RMF) model involving baryon octet coupled to meson fields. An effective lagrangian includes quartic terms in the meson fields. The values of the parameters of the model are obtained by fitting semi-empirical parameters of nuclear matter at the saturation point, as well as potential wells for hyperons in nuclear matter and the strength of the Lambda-Lambda attraction in double-Lambda hypernuclei. We propose a non-linear RMF model which is consistent with up-to-date semiempirical nuclear and hypernuclear data and allows for neutron stars with hyperon cores and M larger than 2 solar masses. The model involves hidden-strangenes scalar and vector mesons, coupled to hyperons only, and quartic terms involving vector meson fields. Our EOS involving hyperons is stiffer than the corresponding nucleonic EOS (with hyperons artificially suppressed) above five nuclear densities. Required stiffening is generated by the quartic terms involving hidden-strangeness vector meson.

Hybrid stars with the Dyson-Schwinger quark model

We study the hadron-quark phase transition in the interior of neutron stars. For the hadronic sector, we use a microscopic equation of state involving nucleons and hyperons derived within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock many-body theory with realistic two-body and three-body forces. For the description of quark matter, we employ the Dyson-Schwinger approach and compare with the MIT bag model. We calculate the structure of neutron star interiors comprising both phases and find that with the Dyson-Schwinger model, the hadron-quark phase transition takes place only when hyperons are excluded, and that a two-solar-mass hybrid star is possible only if the nucleonic equation of state is stiff enough.

EMERGENCE OF HYPERONS IN FAILED SUPERNOVAE: TRIGGER OF THE BLACK HOLE FORMATION

We investigate the emergence of strange baryons in the dynamical collapse of a nonrotating massive star to a black hole using neutrino-radiation hydrodynamical simulations in general relativity. By following the dynamical formation and collapse of a nascent proto-neutron star from the gravitational collapse of a 40 M☉ star adopting a new hyperonic equation-of-state (EOS) table, we show that the hyperons do not appear at the core bounce but populate quickly ∼0.5–0.7 s after the bounce to trigger the recollapse to a black hole. They start to show up off center owing to high temperatures and later prevail at center when the central density becomes high enough. The neutrino emission from the accreting proto-neutron star with the hyperonic EOS stops much earlier than the corresponding case with a nucleonic EOS, while the average energies and luminosities are quite similar in the two cases. These features of the neutrino signal are a potential probe of the emergence of new degrees of freedom inside the black hole forming collapse.

Constraining Properties of Rapidly Rotating Neutron Stars Using Data from Heavy‐Ion Collisions

Properties, structure, and thermal evolution of neutron stars are determined by the equation of state of stellar matter. Recent data on isospin diffusion and isoscaling in heavy-ion collisions at intermediate energies as well as data on the size of the neutron skin in 208Pb have considerably constrained the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy and, in turn, the equation of state of neutron-rich nucleonic matter. These constraints could provide useful information about the global properties of rapidly rotating neutron stars. Models of rapidly rotating neutron stars are constructed by applying several nucleonic equations of state. Particular emphasis is placed on configurations rotating rigidly at 716 and 1122 Hz. The range of allowed hydrostatic equilibrium solutions is determined and tested for stability. The effect of rotation on the internal composition and thermal properties of neutron stars is also examined. At a given rotational frequency, each equation of state yields a range of possible neutron stars configurations restricted by the Keplerian (mass-shedding) limit, corresponding to the maximal circumferential radius, and the limit due to the onset of instabilities with respect to axisymmetric perturbations, corresponding to the minimal equatorial radius of a stable neutron star model. We show that the mass of a neutron star rotating uniformly at 1122 Hz is between 1.7 and 2.1 M☉. Central stellar density and proton fraction decrease with increasing rotational frequency with respect to static models and, depending on the exact stellar mass and angular velocity, can drop below the direct Urca threshold, thus closing the fast cooling channel.

Antikaon condensation in neutron stars

We investigate the condensation of charged K − meson and neutral K 0 meson in dense neutron star matter. Calculations are performed in relativistic mean field models in which both the baryon–baryon and (anti)kaon–baryon interactions are mediated by meson exchange. It is found that K 0 condensation is quite sensitive to the antikaon optical potential and depends more strongly on the nucleonic equation of state. For moderate values of antikaon potential and a rather stiff equation of state, a significant region of maximum mass star will contain K 0 meson. The critical density of K 0 condensation is always higher than that of K − condensation. With the appearance of K − and K 0 condensates, pairs of p− K − and n− K 0 are produced with equal proportion leading to a perfectly symmetric matter of nucleons and antikaons in neutron stars. Along with K − condensate, K 0 condensate makes the equation of state much softer resulting in smaller maximum mass stars compared to the case without any condensate.

Onset of hyperon formation in neutron star matter from Brueckner theory

We determine fully self-consistent single-particle potentials and chemical potentials of nucleons and hyperons in asymmetric nuclear matter, using an extended Brueckner-Hartree-Fock formalism. We carefully analyze the onset of ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ formation in $\ensuremath{\beta}$ stable and charge neutral matter. The role played by the three-body nucleon interaction is widely discussed. The results indicate that formation of hyperons sets in at about (2--3) times normal nuclear matter density, for all the different nucleonic equations of state that are considered.