| 1. |
- Christian, Jan-Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Which first order phase transitions to quark matter are possible in neutron stars?
- 2024
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Ingår i: Physical Review D. - 2470-0010 .- 2470-0029. ; 109:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We examine which first order phase transitions are consistent with today’s astrophysical constraints. In particular, we explore how a well-constrained mass-radius data point would restrict the admissible parameter space and to this end, we employ the most likely candidates of the recent NICER limits of PSR J0030+0451. To systematically vary the stiffness of the equation of state, we employ a parametrizable relativistic mean field equation of state, which is in compliance with results from chiral effective field theory. We model phase transitions via Maxwell constructions and parametrize them by means of the transitional pressure ptrans and the jump in energy density Δε. This provides us with a generic setup that allows for rather general conclusions to be drawn. We outline some regions in the ptrans−Δε parameter space that may allow for a phase transition identification in the near future. We also find that a strongly constrained data point, at either exceptionally large or small radii, would reduce the parameter space to such an extent that mass and radius become insufficient indicators of a phase transition.
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| 2. |
- Kasliwal, M. M., et al.
(författare)
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Spitzer mid-infrared detections of neutron star merger GW170817 suggests synthesis of the heaviest elements
- 2022
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Ingår i: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1745-3925 .- 1745-3933. ; 510:1, s. L7-L12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report our Spitzer Space Telescope observations and detections of the binary neutron star merger GW170817. At 4.5 μm, GW170817 is detected at 21.9 mag AB at +43 days and 23.9 mag AB at +74 days after merger. At 3.6 μm, GW170817 is not detected to a limit of 23.2 mag AB at +43 days and 23.1 mag AB at +74 days. Our detections constitute the latest and reddest constraints on the kilonova/macronova emission and composition of heavy elements. The 4.5 μm luminosity at this late phase cannot be explained by elements exclusively from the first abundance peak of the r-process. Moreover, the steep decline in the Spitzer band, with a power-law index of 3.4 ± 0.2, can be explained by a few of the heaviest isotopes with half-life around 14 d dominating the luminosity (e.g. 140Ba, 143Pr, 147Nd, 156Eu, 191Os, 223Ra, 225Ra, 233Pa, 234Th) or a model with lower deposition efficiency. This data offers evidence that the heaviest elements in the second and third r-process abundance peak were indeed synthesized. Our conclusion is verified by both analytics and network simulations and robust despite intricacies and uncertainties in the nuclear physics. Future observations with Spitzer and James Webb Space Telescope will further illuminate the relative abundance of the synthesized heavy elements.
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| 3. |
- Rosswog, Stephan, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Heavy Elements and Electromagnetic Transients from Neutron Star Mergers
- 2024
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Ingår i: Annalen der Physik. - : Wiley. - 0003-3804 .- 1521-3889. ; 536:2
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Compact binary mergers involving neutron stars can eject a fraction of their mass to space. Being extremely neutron rich, this material undergoes rapid neutron capture nucleosynthesis, and the resulting radioactivity powers fast, short-lived electromagnetic transients known as kilonova or macronova. Such transients are exciting probes of the most extreme physical conditions and their observation signals the enrichment of the Universe with heavy elements. Here the current understanding of the mass ejection mechanisms, the properties of the ejecta, and the resulting radioactive transients are reviewed. The first well-observed event in the aftermath of GW170817 delivered a wealth of insights, but much of today's picture of such events is still based on a patchwork of theoretical studies. Apart from summarizing the current understanding, questions where no consensus has been reached yet are also pointed out, and possible directions for the future research are sketched. In an appendix, a publicly available heating rate library based on the WinNet nuclear reaction network is described, and a simple fit formula to alleviate the implementation in hydrodynamic simulations is provided.
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| 4. |
- Rosswog, Stephan, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Mergers of double NSs with one high-spin component : brighter kilonovae and fallback accretion, weaker gravitational waves
- 2024
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 530:2, s. 2336-2354
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neutron star (NS) mergers where both stars have negligible spins are commonly considered as the most likely 'standard' case. In globular clusters, however, the majority of NSs have been spun up to millisecond (ms) periods and, based on observed systems, we estimate that a non-negligible fraction of all double NS mergers ($\sim 4\pm 2\, {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) contains one component with a spin of a (few) ms. We use the Lagrangian numerical relativity code SPHINCS_BSSN to simulate mergers where one star has no spin and the other has a dimensionless spin parameter of chi = 0.5. Such mergers exhibit several distinct signatures compared to irrotational cases. They form only one, very pronounced spiral arm and they dynamically eject an order of magnitude more mass of unshocked material at the original, very low electron fraction. One can therefore expect particularly bright, red kilonovae. Overall, the spinning case collisions are substantially less violent and they eject smaller amounts of shock-generated semirelativistic material. Therefore, the ejecta produce a weaker blue/ultraviolet kilonova precursor signal, but - since the total amount is larger - brighter kilonova afterglows months after the merger. The spinning cases also have significantly more fallback accretion and thus could power late-time X-ray flares. Since the post-merger remnant loses energy and angular momentum significantly less efficiently to gravitational waves, such systems can delay a potential collapse to a black hole and are therefore candidates for merger-triggered gamma-ray bursts with longer emission time-scales.
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| 5. |
- Rosswog, Stephan, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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The Lagrangian numerical relativity code SPHINCS_BSSN_v1.0
- 2023
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics. - 2297-4687. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present version 1.0 of our Lagrangian numerical relativity code SPHINCS_BSSN. This code evolves the full set of Einstein equations, but contrary to other numerical relativity codes, it evolves the matter fluid via Lagrangian particles in the framework of a high-accuracy version of smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH). The major new elements introduced here are: (i) a new method to map the stress–energy tensor (known at the particles) to the spacetime mesh, based on a local regression estimate; (ii) additional measures that ensure the robust evolution of a neutron star through its collapse to a black hole; and (iii) further refinements in how we place the SPH particles for our initial data. The latter are implemented in our code SPHINCS_ID which now, in addition to LORENE, can also couple to initial data produced by the initial data library FUKA. We discuss several simulations of neutron star mergers performed with SPHINCS_BSSN_v1.0, including irrotational cases with and without prompt collapse and a system where only one of the stars has a large spin (χ = 0.5).
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| 6. |
- Shrestha, Manisha, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of jets on kilonova photometric and polarimetric emission from binary neutron star mergers
- 2023
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 523:2, s. 2990-3000
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A merger of binary neutron stars creates heavy unstable elements whose radioactive decay produces a thermal emission known as a kilonova. In this paper, we predict the photometric and polarimetric behaviour of this emission by performing 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations. In particular, we choose three hydrodynamical models for merger ejecta, two including jets with different luminosities and one without a jet structure, to help decipher the impact of jets on the light curve and polarimetric behaviour. In terms of photometry, we find distinct colour evolutions across the three models. Models without a jet show the highest variation in light curves for different viewing angles. In contrast to previous studies, we find models with a jet to produce fainter kilonovae when viewed from orientations close to the jet axis, compared to a model without a jet. In terms of polarimetry, we predict relatively low levels (similar to 0.3-0.4 per cent) at all orientations that, however, remain non-negligible until a few days after the merger and longer than previously found. Despite the low levels, we find that the presence of a jet enhances the degree of polarization at wavelengths ranging from 0.25 to 2.5 mu m, an effect that is found to increase with the jet luminosity. Thus, future photometric and polarimetric campaigns should observe kilonovae in blue and red filters for a few days after the merger to help constrain the properties of the ejecta (e.g. composition) and jet.
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