Equations of State of Superdense Nuclear Matter for Use in Neutron Star Merger Simulations

利用LIGO和室女座观测到了第一颗名为GW170817的双星中子星合并，将科学界带入了引力波多信使天文学时代。数值相对论模拟表明，热和致密物质的压力-密度关系(称为状态方程)在模拟中子星碰撞中起着基础性的作用。中子星的质量是太阳的两倍，但直径通常只有20公里左右。在如此超乎寻常的密度下，原子核坍塌，中子和质子被挤压得如此紧密，以至于它们可能会瓦解成由上下夸克组成的等离子体，而夸克是物质的最基本组成部分。该项目的目标是确定一套全面的最先进的超稠密核物质状态方程模型，供从事中子星合并模拟工作的研究人员使用。特别是，该小组将调查夸克在中子星合并中的作用，并确定可能的信号，通过这些信号，夸克可以在合并中子星产生的引力波信号中注册自己。状态方程的模型将在在线服务(Compose，StellarColapse)上提供给社区。圣地亚哥州立大学的研究生和本科生将接受物理领域的培训，这些领域是非常跨学科的，他们的教育经验比他们在课堂上学到的更丰富。这个项目的总体目标是确定一套全面的最先进的热和稠密核物质状态方程模型，供从事中子星合并模拟工作的研究人员使用。当代有效场论模型，即相对论密度相关的Hartree(DDRMF)模型和(局域和非局域)三味Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio(3PNJL)模型将被用来实现这一目标。DDRMF是一种通用的、数值上易于处理的核多体理论，非常适合于研究致密和致密的强子物质。3PNJL模型是一个有效的量子色动力学模型，它允许对夸克物质进行当代建模。它为量子色动力学提供了一种泛函和数值处理的方法。该模型解释了手征对称性的动力学破缺，并通过Polyakov-loop势模拟了夸克禁闭。我们将用相平衡的吉布斯条件和麦克斯韦条件来研究零温度和有限温度下的夸克退禁闭。核理论、核实验和天体物理学目前可能存在的最强约束将被用来确定有效场论的参数，并测试状态方程的有效性。该项目推进了未来NSF投资的十大想法之一“宇宙之窗：多信使天体物理时代”的目标。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The observation of the first binary neutron star merger named GW170817 using LIGO and VIRGO led the scientific community into the era of multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves. Numerical relativity simulations have shown that the pressure-density relationship (known as equation of state) of hot and dense matter plays a fundamental role in simulating the collisions of neutron stars. Neutron stars are up to twice as massive as our Sun but are typically only around 20 kilometers across. At such extraordinary densities, atomic nuclei collapse, and neutrons and protons are squeezed so tightly together that they may disintegrate into a plasma made of up and down quarks, which are the most fundamental building blocks of matter. The goal of this project is to determine a comprehensive set of state-of-the art models for the equation of state of superdense nuclear matter for use by researchers working on neutron-star merger simulations. In particular, the group will investigate the role of quarks for neutron-star mergers and identify possible signals by means of which quarks may register themselves in the gravitational-wave signals produced by merging neutron stars. The models for the equation of state will be made available to the community at online services (CompOSE, StellarCollapse). Graduate and undergraduate students at San Diego State University will be trained in areas of physics which are richly interdisciplinary and enrich their educational experience beyond what they learn in the classroom.The overarching goal of this project is to determine a comprehensive set of state-of-the art models for the equation of state of hot and dense nuclear matter for use by researchers working on neutron-star merger simulations. Contemporary effective field theoretical models, i.e., the relativistic density-dependent Hartree (DDRMF) model and the (local and the non-local) 3-flavor Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (3PNJL) model, will be used to accomplish this goal. The DDRMF is a versatile and numerically tractable nuclear many-body theory well suited for studies of dense and dense hadronic matter. The 3PNJL model is an effective model of quantum chromodynamics which allows for a contemporary modeling of quark matter. It provides a functional and numerically tractable approach to quantum chromodynamics. The model accounts for the dynamical breaking of chiral symmetry and mimics quark confinement via the Polyakov-loop potential. Quark deconfinement at zero and finite temperature will be studied using both the Gibbs and Maxwell condition for phase equilibrium. The strongest, currently possible constraints from nuclear theory, nuclear experiment, and astrophysics will be used to fix the parameters of the effective field theories and test the validity of the equations of state.This project advances the objectives of "Windows on the Universe: the Era of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics", one of the 10 Big Ideas for Future NSF Investments.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.