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QCD in Neutron Stars and Strange Stars

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3587579· OSTI ID:21516860
 [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1233 (United States)
  2. FIAS, Goethe University, Ruth Moufang Str 1, 60438 Frankfurt (Germany)

This paper provides an overview of the possible role of Quantum Chromo Dynamics (QCD) for neutron stars and strange stars. The fundamental degrees of freedom of QCD are quarks, which may exist as unconfined (color superconducting) particles in the cores of neutron stars. There is also the theoretical possibility that a significantly large number of up, down, and strange quarks may settle down in a new state of matter known as strange quark matter, which, by hypothesis, could be more stable than even the most stable atomic nucleus, {sup 56}Fe. In the latter case new classes of self-bound, color superconducting objects, ranging from strange quark nuggets to strange quark stars, should exist. The properties of such objects will be reviewed along with the possible existence of deconfined quarks in neutron stars. Implications for observational astrophysics are pointed out.

OSTI ID:
21516860
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1354; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English