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We investigate the structure of admixed neutron stars with a regular hadronic component and a fraction of fermionic self-interacting dark matter. Using two limiting equations of state for the dense baryonic interior, constructed from piecewise generalized polytropes, and an asymmetric self-interacting fermionic dark component, we analyse different scenarios of admixed neutron stars depending on the mass of dark fermions mχ, interaction mediators mϕ, and self-interacting strengths g. We find that the contribution of dark matter to the masses and radii of neutron stars leads to tension with mass estimates of the pulsar J0453+1559, the least massive neutron star, and with the constraints coming from the GW170817 event. We discuss the possibilities of constraining dark matter model parameters g and y ≡ mχ/mϕ, using current existing knowledge on neutron star estimations of mass, radius, and tidal deformability, along with the accepted cosmological dark matter freeze-out values and self-interaction cross-section to mass ratio, σSI/mχ, fitted to explain Bullet, Abell, and dwarf galaxy cluster dynamics. By assuming the most restrictive upper limit, σSI/mχ < 0.1 cm2 g−1, along with dark matter freeze-out range values, the allowed g–y region is 0.01 ≲ g ≲ 0.1, with 0.5 ≲ y ≲ 200. For the first time, the combination of updated complementary restrictions is used to set constraints on self-interacting dark matter.

 

It is generally accepted that the limit on the stable rotation of neutron stars is set by gravitational-radiation reaction (GRR) driven instabilities, which cause the stars to emit gravitational waves that carry angular momentum away from them. The instability modes are moderated by the shear viscosity and the bulk viscosity of neutron star matter. Among the GRR instabilities, the f-mode instability plays a historically predominant role. In this work, we determine the instability periods of this mode for three different relativistic models for the nuclear equation of state (EoS) named DD2, ACB4, and GM1L. The ACB4 model for the EoS accounts for a strong first-order phase transition that predicts a new branch of compact objects known as mass-twin stars. DD2 and GM1L are relativistic mean field (RMF) models that describe the meson-baryon coupling constants to be dependent on the local baryon number density. Our results show that the f-mode instability associated with m=2 sets the limit of stable rotation for cold neutron stars (T≲1010 K) with masses between 1M⊙ and 2M⊙. This mode is excited at rotation periods between 1 and 1.4 ms (∼20% to ∼40% higher than the Kepler periods of these stars). For cold hypothetical mass-twin compact stars with masses between 1.96M⊙ and 2.10M⊙, the m=2 instability sets in at rotational stellar periods between 0.8 and 1 millisecond (i.e., ∼25% to ∼30% above the Kepler period). 

We model neutron stars as magnetized hybrid stars with an abrupt hadron–quark phase transition in their cores, taking into account current constraints from nuclear experiments and multimessenger observations. We include magnetic field effects considering the Landau level quantization of charged particles and the anomalous magnetic moment of neutral particles. We construct the magnetized hybrid equation of state, and we compute the particle population, the matter magnetization and the transverse and parallel pressure components. We integrate the stable stellar models, considering the dynamical stability for rapid or slow hadron–quark phase conversion. Finally, we calculate the frequencies and damping times of the fundamental and g non-radial oscillation modes. The latter, a key mode to learn about phase transitions in compact objects, is only obtained for stars with slow conversions. For low magnetic fields, we find that one of the objects of the GW170817 binary system might be a hybrid star belonging to the slow extended stability branch. For magnetars, we find that a stronger magnetic field always softens the hadronic equation of state. Besides, only for some parameter combinations a stronger magnetic field implies a higher hybrid star maximum mass. Contrary to previous results, the incorporation of anomalous magnetic moment does not affect the studied astrophysical quantities. We discuss possible imprints of the microphysics of the equation of state that could be tested observationally in the future, and that might help infer the nature of dense matter and hybrid stars.

 

In the first part of this paper, we investigate the possible existence of a structured hadron-quark mixed phase in the cores of neutron stars. This phase, referred to as the hadron-quark pasta phase, consists of spherical blob, rod, and slab rare phase geometries. Particular emphasis is given to modeling the size of this phase in rotating neutron stars. We use the relativistic mean-field theory to model hadronic matter and the non-local three-flavor Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model to describe quark matter. Based on these models, the hadron-quark pasta phase exists only in very massive neutron stars, whose rotational frequencies are less than around 300 Hz. All other stars are not dense enough to trigger quark deconfinement in their cores. Part two of the paper deals with the quark-hadron composition of hot (proto) neutron star matter. To this end we use a local three-flavor Polyakov–Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model which includes the ’t Hooft (quark flavor mixing) term. It is found that this term leads to non-negligible changes in the particle composition of (proto) neutron stars made of hadron-quark matter. 

We investigate in this work two different types of instabilities that set limits on the rotation rates of neutron (compact) stars. The first one is that caused by rotation at the Kepler frequency, at which mass shedding at the star's equator sets in. The second limit is set by instabilities driven by the growth of gravitational radiation‐reaction (GRR) driven‐modes of order, which are moderated by shear and bulk viscosity. The calculations are performed for two relativistic models for the nuclear equation of state, DD2 and ACB4. The latter accounts for a phase transition that gives rise to the existence of so‐called mass‐twin compact stars. Our results confirm that the stable rotation periods of cold neutron stars are determined by themodes and that these modes are excited at rotation periods between 1 and 1.4 ms (20–30% above the Kepler periods of these stars). The situation is reversed in hot neutron stars where bulk viscosity damps the GRR modes, pushing the excitation period of the‐mode instability to values below the Kepler period. For cold mass‐twin compact stars, we find that theinstability sets in at rotation periods between 0.8 and 1 ms (25–30% below the Kepler period). This feature may allow one to distinguish conventional neutron stars from their possibly existing mass‐twin counterparts observationally, provided the‐mode instability, which is expected to compete with the‐mode instability, sets the limit on stable rotation of compact stars.