Quark matter under strong magnetic fields in the su(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio Model

TL;DR

This study uses the SU(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model under strong magnetic fields to analyze quark matter, revealing increased binding energy and implications for neutron star masses, especially in magnetar conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of SU(3) NJL model effects on quark matter under strong magnetic fields, including comparisons with SU(2) and implications for stellar mass predictions.

Findings

Magnetized quark matter becomes more bound than iron nuclei at B ~ 2x10^19 G.

Maximum neutron star masses can reach up to 1.86 solar masses under strong magnetic fields.

Results are consistent with observed neutron star masses.

Abstract

In the present work we use the mean field approximation to investigate quark matter described by the su(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model subject to a strong magnetic field. We consider two cases: pure quark matter and quark matter in beta-equilibrium possibly present in magnetars. The results are compared with the ones obtained with the su(2) version of the model. The energy per baryon of magnetized quark matter becomes more bound than nuclear matter made of iron nuclei, for B around 2x10^(19)G. When the su(3) NJL model is applied to stellar matter, the maximum mass configurations are always above 1.45 solar masses and may be as high as 1.86 solar masses for a central magnetic field of 5x10^(18)G. These numbers are within the masses of observed neutron stars.