Strange Dwarfs: a review on the (in)stability

TL;DR

This review discusses the concept, formation, structure, and stability of strange dwarfs, a hypothetical class of white dwarfs with strange quark matter cores, highlighting debates on their stability and potential observational signatures.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of strange dwarfs, emphasizing the importance of boundary conditions in their stability analysis and exploring their possible formation mechanisms.

Findings

Stability of strange dwarfs depends critically on boundary conditions.

Strange dwarfs may form via accumulation of matter on strange quark stars.

Potential detection methods for strange dwarfs are discussed.

Abstract

White dwarfs are the remnants of stars not massive enough to become supernovae. This review explores the concept of strange dwarfs, a unique class of white dwarfs which contain cores of strange quark matter. Strange dwarfs have different sizes, masses, and evolutionary paths with respect to white dwarfs. They might form through the accumulation of normal matter on strange quark stars or by capture of strangelets. The stability of strange dwarfs has been debated, with initial studies suggesting stability, while later analyses indicated potential instability. This review revisits these discussions, focusing on the critical role of boundary conditions between nuclear and quark matter in determining stability. It also offers insights into their formation, structure, and possible detection in the universe.