Phase transition and anisotropic deformations of neutron star matter

Nelmes, S; Piette, B.M.A.G.

doi:10.1103/physrevd.85.123004

Phase transition and anisotropic deformations of neutron star matter

Nelmes, S; Piette, B.M.A.G.

Authors

S Nelmes

Professor Bernard Piette b.m.a.g.piette@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

The Skyrme model is a low energy, effective field theory for QCD that when coupled to a gravitational field provides an ideal semiclassical model to describe neutron stars. We use the Skyrme crystal solution composed of a lattice of α-like particles as a building block to construct minimum energy neutron star configurations, allowing the crystal to be strained anisotropically. We find that below 1.49 solar masses the stars’ crystal deforms isotropically and that above this critical mass, it undergoes anisotropic strain. We then find that the maximum mass allowed for a neutron star is 1.90 solar masses, in close agreement with a recent observation of the most massive neutron star yet found. The radii of the computed solutions also match the experimentally estimated values of approximately 10 km.

Citation

Nelmes, S., & Piette, B. (2012). Phase transition and anisotropic deformations of neutron star matter. Physical Review D, 85(12), Article 123004. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.85.123004

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Jun 1, 2012
Deposit Date	Oct 24, 2012
Publicly Available Date	Oct 15, 2013
Journal	Physical Review D
Print ISSN	1550-7998
Electronic ISSN	1550-2368
Publisher	American Physical Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	85
Issue	12
Article Number	123004
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.85.123004