Strangelet dwarfs

TL;DR

This paper predicts a new class of low-mass, large-radius stellar objects called strangelet dwarfs, formed from quark matter crystals, expanding the possible astrophysical manifestations of quark matter beyond traditional strange stars.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of strangelet dwarfs and calculates their mass-radius relationship using a generic quark matter equation of state.

Findings

Existence of a new class of stellar objects called strangelet dwarfs.

Mass-radius relationship for strangelet dwarfs derived.

Potential astrophysical signatures of strangelet dwarfs discussed.

Abstract

If the surface tension of quark matter is low enough, quark matter is not self bound. At sufficiently low pressure and temperature, it will take the form of a crystal of positively charged strangelets in a neutralizing background of electrons. In this case there will exist, in addition to the usual family of strange stars, a family of low-mass large-radius objects analogous to white dwarfs, which we call "strangelet dwarfs". Using a generic parametrization of the equation of state of quark matter, we calculate the mass-radius relationship of these objects.