Phase diagram for rotating compact stars with two high density phases

Abstract

For the classification of rotating compact stars with two high density phases a phase diagram in the angular velocity (Omega) - baryon number (N) plane is investigated. The dividing line N_crit(Omega) between configurations with one and two phases is correlated to a local maximum of the moment of inertia and can thus be subject to experimental verification by observation of the rotational behavior of accreting compact stars. Another characteristic line, which also can be measured is the transition line to black holes that of the maximum mass configurations. The positions and the shape of these lines are sensitive to changes in the equation of state (EoS) of stellar matter. A comparison of the regional structure of phase diagrams is performed for polytropic and relativistic mean field type EoS and correlations between the topology of the transition lines and the properties of two-phase EoS are obtained. Different scenarios of compact star evolution are discussed as trajectories in the phase diagram. It is shown that a population gap in the Omega - N plane for accreting compact stars would signal a high density phase transition and could be observed in the distribution of so called Z sources of quasi periodic oscillations in low-mass X-ray binaries.