Nucleation of Quark Matter in Neutron Star Cores

Abstract

We consider the general conditions of quark droplets formation in high\ndensity neutron matter. The growth of the quark bubble (assumed to contain a\nsufficiently large number of particles) can be described by means of a\nFokker-Planck equation. The dynamics of the nucleation essentially depends on\nthe physical properties of the medium it takes place. The conditions for quark\nbubble formation are analyzed within the frameworks of both dissipative and\nnon-dissipative (with zero bulk and shear viscosity coefficients) approaches.\nThe conversion time of the neutron star to a quark star is obtained as a\nfunction of the equation of state of the neutron matter and of the microscopic\nparameters of the quark nuclei. As an application of the obtained formalism we\nanalyze the first order phase transition from neutron matter to quark matter in\nrapidly rotating neutron stars cores, triggered by the gravitational energy\nreleased during the spinning down of the neutron star. The endothermic\nconversion process, via gravitational energy absorption, could take place, in a\nvery short time interval, of the order of few tens seconds, in a class of dense\ncompact objects, with very high magnetic fields, called magnetars.\n