Maximum latent heat of neutron star matter independently of General Relativity

Abstract

We establish bounds on the maximum possible specific latent heat of cold neutron-star matter derived from hadron physics alone. Existing chiral perturbation theory computations for the equation of state, together with perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics, relevant at highest densities (even if they would turn out not to be physically realizable) bind the maximum latent heat which is possible in actual neutron stars. Because these are already near gravitational collapse in General Relativity, no denser form of cold matter can exist: thus, the bounds are a generic physical limit. Even in scenarios that modify the theory of gravity, the existence of a family of latent-heat maxima is relevant to diagnose progress in the knowledge of the equation of state of neutron matter, by quantifying the maximum possible (presumed) phase transition that its error bands would allow. Thus, latent heat is a natural benchmark for the equation of state in cold QCD.

9 plots, six pages in double column Phys. Rev. C format; thoroughly revised version following refereeing. Updated to include (n,mu) integral constraints from Komoltsev and Kurkela's 2111.05350

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• Constraining Palatini gravity with GR-independent equations of state for neutron stars
• Constraining the onset density for the QCD phase transition with the neutrino signal from core-collapse supernovae
• Correlation between the symmetry energy slope and the deconfinement phase transition
• QCD Phase Diagrams via QHD and MIT-Based Models
• Ridges in rotating neutron-star properties due to first order phase transitions
• Phase transitions and latent heat in magnetized matter
• Effective Field Theories for Neutron Stars Physics
• Testing gravity with the latent heat of neutron star matter