doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.262701
Credibility: 989
#Neutrons Stars
Neutron stars, the densest objects in the visible universe, are helping scientists understand a very special phenomenon that occurs with quarks, the particles that make up protons and neutrons
This phenomenon is called color superconductivity, and it occurs in extremely extreme conditions, such as those found inside neutron stars.
What is color superconductivity”
When they are at very high densities, quarks can pair up in a way similar to what happens with electrons in superconducting materials (which conduct electricity without resistance).
This pairing of quarks is what scientists call color superconductivity.
Understanding the strength of these “quark pairs” is a difficult task, but scientists know that it is related to the pressure inside neutron stars.
The role of neutron stars
Neutron stars are incredible natural laboratories.
They have such high densities that scientists can use them to study how matter behaves under extreme conditions.
By measuring the size of these stars and observing how they deform during collisions, researchers can estimate the pressure inside them and learn more about quarks.
In this study, scientists analyzed data from these stars to explore the conditions under which color superconductivity occurs.
They were able, for the first time, to establish an upper limit on the strength of this interaction between quarks.
How did they do it”
The scientists used data from several sources:
– NICER, a space telescope that measures the size of neutron stars.
– LIGO/Virgo, which detects gravitational waves generated by neutron star collisions.
– Ground-based telescopes that observe radio signals emitted by neutron stars.
Using this information, they calculated the pressure inside neutron stars.
They then compared these pressures with what we know about quark matter without considering superconductivity.
This difference allowed them to estimate the impact of “quark pairs” and place limits on the strength of this interaction.
Why is this important”
This research is a major breakthrough because, for the first time, scientists have used real data from astronomical observations to understand something as complex as quark superconductivity.
This paves the way for new studies of the densest matter in the visible universe and helps us better understand the mysteries of neutron stars.
In addition, studies like this show how particle physics and astronomy are connected, helping to answer questions about the nature of the universe.
Published in 12/07/2024 23h23
Text adapted by AI (ChatGPT/Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption. Information about DOI, author and institution can be found in the body of the article.
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