Quark Matter in Neutron Star Mergers

从核到限定夸克物质的一阶相变的存在和位置是粒子物理学中最令人兴奋的未解问题之一。随着ligo和VIRGO探测器在2017年发现双中子星合并产生的引力波，研究致密物质的全新方法已经出现。未来的第三代引力波探测器，如计划中的欧洲爱因斯坦望远镜（ET），不仅能够测量灵感，而且能够测量实际的恒星合并。只有通过改进数值模拟中实现的微观物理，我们才能解码和约束合并信号中粒子物理的支配力，并释放ET的全部潜力。这包括对夸克物质中化学平衡和约束的微观物理的适当处理。以往的研究忽略了弱相互作用的影响，忽略了体积粘度和相变耗散等重要影响。quarkstar的目的是研究、计算和提供所有必要的微观物理，以正确处理夸克物质的合并。主要焦点是提供结果，以便合并社区可以使用这些结果，并在未来的模拟中实现这些结果。这可能为在致密物质中发现夸克物质开辟一条全新的途径。作为中子星合并中的微观物理、输运和弱相互作用过程方面的专家，Alexander Haber博士将与南安普顿的Nils Andersson教授的数值广义相对论小组合作。这个理想的位置使Haber博士能够为他未来的学术生涯接受所有相关的培训，同时展示从微观物理学到广义相对论的知识的理想组合，这是解决夸克物质和中子星合并中的定义问题所必需的。

The existence and location of a first order phase transition from nuclear to deconfined quark matter are one of particle physics's mostexciting unanswered questions. With the discovery of gravitational waves from a binary neutron star merger in 2017 from the LIGOand VIRGO detectors, entirely new ways of investigating dense matter have emerged. Future third-generation gravitational-wavedetectors like the planned Einstein Telescope (ET) in Europe will be able to not only measure the inspiral but the actual merger of thestars. Only by improving the microscopic physics implemented in numerical simulations, we will be able to decode and constrain thegoverning forces of particle physics imprinted in the merger signal and unlock ET's full potential. This includes a proper treatment ofthe microscopic physics of chemical equilibration and deconfinement in quark matter. In previous works, the effects of the weakinteraction have been ignored, which dismisses important effects like bulk viscosity and phase conversion dissipation. The aim ofQUARKSTAR is to investigate, compute and provide all the necessary microscopic physics for the proper treatment of quark matter inmergers. The main focus is to provide the results in a way that they can be used by the merger community and implemented in futuresimulations. This might open a completely new pathway to the discovery of quark matter in dense matter.As an expert on microscopic physics, transport, and weak interaction processes in neutron star mergers, Dr. Alexander Haber will joinforces with the numerical general relativity group of Prof. Nils Andersson in Southampton. This ideal placement allows Dr. Haber toreceive all relevant training for his future academic career while presenting the ideal combination of knowledge from microscopicphysics to general relativity necessary to tackle the question of quark matter and deconfinement in neutron star mergers.