Neutrino Signal from Compact Objects during their Formation, their Mergers, or as a Signature of Electric-Charge Phase Transition

Abstract

We study neutrino production, propagation, and oscillations within an extremely magnetized background of finite-temperature nuclear matter. We focus on three particularly interesting cases and identify the astrophysical scenarios where such a signal may be found. The first case involves nuclear matter with electrons, and it is found during the central-engine stage of, both, short and long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Thus, for the short GRB case it will also be associated to gravitational-wave events where there is an electromagnetic counterpart (e.g., GW170817). The second and third scenarios involve the presence of strange-quark matter (SQM). The second scenario occurs if SQM can become negatively charged (SQM$^-$; which may only occur at high pressure) and, thus, it is embedded in a positron plasma. The third case may be found at the interphase where SQM transitions from positive (SQM$^+$) to negative; here, positrons and electrons may constantly annihilate and give a distinctive neutrino signature. Therefore, this may also be a signature of the existence of strange stars. Given the wide range of magnetic fields we find in the literature, we also briefly discuss the maximum limit that a stellar mass compact object may posses.