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arXiv · 2504.06181

Interface modes in inspiralling neutron stars: A gravitational-wave probe of first-order phase transitions

A. R. Counsell·F. Gittins·N. Andersson·I. Tews
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Abstract

At the extreme densities in neutron stars, a phase transition to deconfined quark matter is anticipated. Yet masses, radii and tidal deformabilities offer only indirect measures of a first-order phase transition, requiring many detections to resolve or being ineffective observables if the discontinuity exists at lower densities. We report on a smoking-gun gravitational-wave signature of a first-order transition: the resonant tidal excitation of an interface mode. Using relativistic perturbation theory with an equation-of-state family informed by chiral effective field theory, we show that such a resonance may be detectable with next-generation interferometers and possibly already with LIGO A+ for sufficiently loud events.

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A. R. Counsell, F. Gittins, N. Andersson, I. Tews. 2025-04-08. Interface modes in inspiralling neutron stars: A gravitational-wave probe of first-order phase transitions. https://doi.org/10.1103/8hvq-6dy7

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