Astro-quark matter: a challenge facing astroparticle physics

TL;DR

This paper reviews the presence and implications of quark matter in astrophysics, including its potential appearance in the early Universe, compact stars, and cosmic rays, with a focus on quark stars as pulsars.

Contribution

It provides a concise overview of astrophysical quark matter, highlighting the significance of recent experimental discoveries like sQGP for astrophysics.

Findings

Quark matter may exist in the early Universe, compact stars, and cosmic rays.

Quark stars are a plausible explanation for pulsars.

Experimental sQGP has important astrophysical implications.

Abstract

Quark matter both in terrestrial experiment and in astrophysics is briefly reviewed. Astrophysical quark matter could appear in the early Universe, in compact stars, and as cosmic rays. Emphasis is put on quark star as the nature of pulsars. Possible astrophysical implications of experiment-discovered sQGP are also concisely discussed.