Maximum elastic deformations of compact stars with exotic equations of state

2005/03/31 by Benjamin J. Owen · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #astro-ph #gr-qc

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.95.211101

published as Phys.Rev.Lett. 95 (2005) 211101 · 4 pages, no figures; Introduction reworked, SGR1806-20 mentioned in Implications, minor changes elsewhere; final version as appearing in PRL

arxiv created 2005/11/15 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01

Abstract

I make the first estimates of maximum elastic quadrupole deformations sustainable by alternatives to conventional neutron stars. Solid strange quark stars might sustain maximum ellipticities (dimensionless quadrupoles) up to a few times 10^-4 rather than a few times 10^-7 for conventional neutron stars, and hybrid quark-baryon or meson-condensate stars might sustain up to 10^-5. Most of the difference is due to the shear modulus, which can be up to 10³³ erg/cm³ rather than 10³⁰ erg/cm³ in the inner crust of a conventional neutron star. Maximum solid strange star ellipticities are comparable to upper limits obtained for several known pulsars in a recent gravitational-wave search by LIGO. Maximum ellipticities of the more robust hybrid model will be detectable by LIGO at initial design sensitivity. A large shear modulus also strengthens the case for starquakes as an explanation for frequent pulsar glitches.

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