Orbital Properties and Gravitational Wave Signatures of Strange Crystal Planets

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical properties and gravitational wave signatures of hypothetical strangelet crystal planets composed of stable strange quark matter, proposing their potential as indicators of strange quark matter existence.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of strangelet crystal planets, analyzes their orbital and gravitational wave properties, and suggests their observational significance for detecting strange quark matter.

Findings

Strangelet crystal planets could produce detectable gravitational wave signals.

These planets have specific tidal disruption radii.

They may serve as indicators of stable strange quark matter presence.

Abstract

In this paper we consider the possibility that strange quark matter may be manifested in the form of strangelet crystal planets. These planet-like objects are made up of nuggets of strange quark matter (SQM), organized in a crystalline structure. We consider the so--called strange matter hypothesis proposed by Bodmer, Witten and Terazawa, in that, strange quark matter may be the absolutely stable state of matter. In this context, we analyze planets made up entirely of strangelets arranged in a crystal lattice. Furthermore we propose that a solar system with a host compact star may be orbited by strange crystal planets. Under this assumption we calculate the relevant quantities that could potentially be observable, such as the planetary tidal disruption radius, and the gravitational waves signals that may arise from potential star-planet merger events. Our results show that strangelet crystal planets could potentially be used as an indicator for the the existence of SQM.