出版社:SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati
摘要:The modern phase diagram of strongly interacting matter reveals a rich structure at high-densities
due to phase transitions related to the chiral symmetry of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and
the phenomenon of color superconductivity. These exotic phases have a significant impact on
high-density astrophysics, such as the properties of neutron stars, and the evolution of astrophysical
systems as proto-neutron stars, core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers. Most
recent pulsar mass measurements and constraints on neutron star radii are critically discussed.
Astrophysical signals for exotic matter and phase transitions in high-density matter proposed recently
in the literature are outlined. A strong first order phase transition leads to the emergence
of a third family of compact stars besides white dwarfs and neutron stars. The different microphysics
of quark matter results in an enhanced r-mode stability window for rotating compact stars
compared to normal neutron stars. Future telescope and satellite data will be used to extract signals
from phase transitions in dense matter in the heavens and will reveal properties of the phases
of dense QCD. Spectral line profiles out of x-ray bursts will determine the mass-radius ratio of
compact stars. Gravitational wave patterns from collapsing neutron stars or neutron star mergers
will even be able to constrain the stiffness of the quark matter equation of state. Future astrophysical
data can therefore provide a crucial cross-check to the exploration of the QCD phase diagram
with the heavy-ion program of the CBM detector at the FAIR facility.