Thoughts about the utility of perturbative QCD in the cores of neutron stars

TL;DR

This paper explores how perturbative QCD can be used to constrain the equation of state of neutron star cores, informing nuclear models and suggesting the presence of quark-matter cores in massive neutron stars.

Contribution

It discusses the application of perturbative QCD to neutron star matter and its implications for the QCD phase diagram and neutron star composition.

Findings

Perturbative QCD constrains neutron star core equations of state.

QCD input suggests possible quark-matter cores in massive neutron stars.

Implications for the QCD phase diagram and neutron star modeling.

Abstract

In this contribution, I discuss the utility that perturbative QCD offers in studying the matter in the cores of neutron stars. I discuss the reasons why perturbative QCD can constrain the equation of state at densities far below the densities where we can perform controlled calculations. I discuss how perturbative QCD can inform nuclear modelling of neutron stars and how it influences equation-of-state inference. And finally, I discuss the implications to the QCD phase diagram and argue that interesting features in the equation of state revealed by the QCD input may be used to argue for the existence of quark-matter cores in most massive neutron stars.