arXiv subjects

Constança Providência

Publications and source records attributed to Constança Providência.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quark and hybrid stars with renormalization group improvement of NNLO perturbative QCD

Recently, the NNLO perturbative QCD pressure of cold and dense symmetric matter, with arbitrary quark masses, has been resummed within the renormalization-group-optimized perturbation theory (RGOPT) framework. By being imbued with renormalization group properties, the resulting pressure is less sensitive to renormalization scale ($Λ\equiv X μ_B/3$) variations than the NNLO perturbative QCD pressure. Here, we extend this by considering $β$-equilibrium and charge neutrality to evaluate the corresponding equation of state (EoS). We provide a compact ``pocket" fitting formula for the EoS for $N_f=2+1$ massive quarks at different renormalization scale parameter ($X$) values. We describe pure quark stars as well as hybrid stars with quark-cores. Pure quark stars compatible with astrophysical observations were obtained with $X=2.71-3.30$, whereas a larger value (3.84) is needed if the secondary component of the observation GW190814 represents a neutron star. Hybrid stars were built considering three representative hadron models based on a relativistic mean-field description, and chosen to produce soft and stiff EoSs. Stable hybrid stars with masses compatible with the massive pulsar PSR J0740+6620 were obtained considering $X$ of the order of 2 to $2.71$, the largest scale giving rise to hybrid stars with a large quark core with a radius of 2 to 8 km , and the smallest to a small quark core at the center of the star.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Trace-anomaly decomposition and universal dark matter scaling in compact stars

We investigate how dark matter (DM) admixture modifies the conformal properties and phase structure of dense neutron-star matter within a self-consistent single-fluid framework, with the global DM fraction $F_χ=N_χ/N_B$ fixing the local relation $n_χ=F_χn_B$. We derive an exact decomposition of the total trace anomaly, $Δ_{\rm tot}$, into microscopic contributions. For collider-motivated Higgs-portal benchmarks, explicit Higgs, vector-mediator, and contact-interaction contributions are negligible, while heavy nonrelativistic DM has an intrinsic trace anomaly close to the nonrelativistic limit, $Δ_χ\simeq1/3$. Consequently, the DM rest-mass energy fraction dominates the DM-induced modification of $Δ_{\rm tot}$, producing a smooth upward shift of up to $\sim0.1$ for $F_χ\sim0.2\%$. In the pressureless, comoving heavy-WIMP regime, we further identify a universal dark-sector scaling governed by the mass-loading parameter $λ=F_χm_χ/m_N$: numerical calculations with different $(F_χ,m_χ)$ pairs at fixed $λ$ exhibit overlapping trace-anomaly, sound-speed, and mass--radius responses for a given baryonic equation of state. In hybrid stars, DM leaves the coexistence pressure and chemical potential essentially unchanged, whereas first-order hadron--quark deconfinement produces sharp discontinuities in the squared sound speed $c_s^2$, $Δ_{\rm tot}$, and $Δ_{\rm tot}-Δ_B$. The combined softening substantially reduces the maximum stellar mass, placing $F_χ\sim0.2\%$ in tension with the observed $2\,M_\odot$ neutron stars. These results show that the trace anomaly and its density evolution provide a sensitive diagnostic for distinguishing smooth DM-induced modifications of dense matter from genuine first-order deconfinement.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Set Transformer inference of the neutron star equation of state from stellar observations

We develop a permutation-invariant Set Transformer to reconstruct the equation of state (EoS) of dense matter from variable-size, unordered sets of neutron star (NS) observations. The model takes stellar masses together with radii, tidal deformabilities, or both, and predicts either the pressure $P(n)$ or the sound speed $c_s^2(n)$ on a fixed density grid, along with density-dependent uncertainties. Nothing in the architecture prescribes which star informs which density: self-attention couples all observations nonlinearly, and each density point reads the full set through its own learnable query, so the star-to-density mapping is learned from the data. Trained on independent piecewise-polytropic and Gaussian-process EoS ensembles, the model provides well-calibrated predictions whose uncertainty increases in density regions that stable stars cannot probe. Reconstruction errors decrease with the number of observations, while tidal deformability generally improves accuracy at a fixed observation count, even when it carries its own measurement noise. Sensitivity analysis reveals a density-local mapping: in the pressure models, predictions at density $n$ depend most strongly on stars whose central densities are near $n$. We also show that the sensitivity of the model to the inferred stellar compactness provides information on the minimum central density. These results demonstrate that set-based neural inference, in which the star-to-density mapping is learned rather than assumed, can extract physically interpretable EoS information with calibrated uncertainties.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Massive cold hybrid stars in a modified Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

We propose a modified Polyakov-loop Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (mPNJL) model in which the Polyakov potential is given by an explicit dependence on the quark chemical potential, allowing it to remain finite at zero temperature and thus to describe the confinement-deconfinement transition in cold dense matter. Combining this modified quark sector with hadronic equations of state via a Maxwell construction, we find that, depending on the model parameters, the equation of state can exhibit either two phase transitions, from hadronic matter to confined quark matter and subsequently to deconfined quark matter, or a single transition directly from hadronic to deconfined quark matter or from hadronic to confined quark matter. Stable massive cold hybrid stars with only confined and/or deconfined quark phase are obtained. We systematically examine how the parameters of the modified Polyakov potential and the quark vector interactions control the location of these transitions, and find that repulsive vector interactions are essential to obtain a stable quark core. Hybrid stars with confined and/or a deconfined core can reach maximum masses above $2M_\odot$, provided a sufficiently stiff hadronic equation of state is used at low density. In the core of the maximum-mass configurations, the speed of sound shows variations at finite baryon densities, with c$_s^2(μ)$ departing from the asymptotic conformal value c$_s^2$ = 1/3 in confined core stars. These variations serve as a diagnostic of the equation-of-state stiffness while remaining fully consistent with causality and thermodynamic stability. This work establishes the qualitative role of each model parameter in shaping hybrid-star structure.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

NS-UNO: Neutron Star EoS Inference from an Unconstrained Number of Observations

Future multimessenger observations of neutron stars (NS) are expected to substantially increase both the number and precision of astrophysical constraints on the equation of state (EoS) of dense matter. This motivates inference frameworks capable of accommodating a variable, non fixed number of observations while preserving the posterior information associated with each measurement. In this work, we introduce NS-UNO, a Neural Posterior Estimation framework for NS EoS inference designed to accommodate an Unconstrained Number of Observations (UNO). NS-UNO combines a hierarchical DeepSets model with a conditional normalising flow, enabling a single trained model to perform inference from mass-radius observation sets of varying size, with each observation represented by a set of posterior samples. We demonstrate accurate and well calibrated posterior reconstructions using a model trained jointly on piecewise polytropic and non-parametric Gaussian process EoS ensembles. The reconstruction improves as observations probe a broader range of NS masses, while remaining robust to variations in the number and precision of the observations. The model also generalises to EoSs outside the families used during training. Finally, we qualitatively demonstrate the framework on current multimessenger constraints from NICER and GW170817. NS-UNO provides a flexible and scalable approach to NS EoS inference, naturally suited to the increasingly diverse observational datasets expected from next generation multimessenger astronomy.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

A self-consistent single-fluid framework for neutron stars admixed with mirror dark matter

We develop a self-consistent dark matter admix neutron star framework based on a contact vector current--current interaction that couples the chemical potentials of both sectors through mutual mean-field shifts, with the dark matter (DM) fraction $F_D = N_D/N_B$ fixed as a global input parameter. This formulation provides a physically motivated alternative to fixed-density prescriptions, allowing the local DM density to follow the baryonic matter (BM) density throughout the stellar interior. As an application, we consider a mirror-DM scenario with exact symmetry between the dark and visible sectors and investigate NS matter using the NL3$ωρ$, FSU2R, NL3, and DDME2 equations of state (EOSs). We find that the amount of DM introduced through $F_D$ weakens the binding of dense matter, reduces its incompressibility, and softens the EOS, while the DM--BM interaction governs the microscopic behavior of the DM in the dense BM medium. Consequently, DM increases the central density and compactness of NSs, lowers their maximum masses, and shifts the onset of the direct Urca process to higher stellar densities. As a consequence, the onset of rapid cooling is shifted to more massive stars for models with a stiff symmetry energy and to less massive stars for models with a soft symmetry energy, depending on the extra compactness that results from the DM admixture. These results demonstrate that mirror-DM admixtures modify both the microscopic composition and macroscopic structure of NSs, with potential implications for their thermal evolution and multimessenger observational signatures.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Isentropic thermodynamics across the hadron-quark mixed phase in a two-phase model with a PNJL quark description

We study the hadron-quark mixed phase within a two-phase model for symmetric and asymmetric matter. For the quark sector we employ the (2+1) Polyakov-extended Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model (PNJL) with vector interactions. We investigate how the hadronic equation of state affects the phase diagram and the thermodynamic properties inside the mixed phase. The behavior of isentropic trajectories in the mixed phase depends on the fixed entropy per baryon ($s/ρ_B$), with trajectories near the critical end point (CEP) exhibiting a pronounced cooling pattern, while isentropic trajectories with low entropy per baryon undergo pronounced heating as the baryonic density increases. The adiabatic squared speed of sound displays characteristic peak and dip structures that depend on $s/ρ_B$. The polytropic index along isentropic and isothermal trajectories, including in the vicinity of the CEP are also investigated. The effects of vector interactions and isospin asymmetry on thermodynamic observables likewise depend on the chosen $s/ρ_B$ value. Finally, we discuss the population of hyperons along isentropic trajectories and their influence on the phase diagram. The main effect of hyperons is to shift the onset of deconfinement to larger densities and decrease the density extension of the mixed phase.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Neutron stars with an agnostic Dark sector: Core and Halo configurations from a two-fluid approach

The study of dark matter admixed neutron stars has the potential to advance our understanding of dark matter particle candidates. However, the large parameter space of dark matter particle masses restricts a systematic, model-independent study. In this analysis, we employ agnostic hadronic and dark matter equations of state to construct dark-matter-admixed neutron stars within a two-fluid formalism. Dark matter is characterised solely by its low-density equation of state and mass, and is modelled as a Fermi gas, while hadronic matter is anchored at low and high densities by chiral effective field theory and perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations. A speed-of-sound parametrisation covers the intermediate density region for hadronic matter and the high-density region for dark matter, so the dark matter equation of state is constrained only by thermodynamic consistency, free from bias toward a softer or stiffer equation of state. Within this agnostic framework, we find that dark matter does not generically compactify the star: light dark matter forms extended halos that raise the tidal deformability, while heavy dark matter forms compact cores that lower it. Consequently, the dominant observational constraint shifts from gravitational-wave tidal deformability for light, halo-dominated models to NICER mass--radius data for heavy, core-dominated models. Using current data at $1σ$, we constrain the dark matter fraction to $f_{\mathrm{DM}} \lesssim 0.11$ for light dark matter. Being almost independent of any assumed dark-sector microphysics, our framework yields conservative, broadly applicable bounds on the dark-matter content of neutron stars. Neutron stars with similar masses but very different tidal deformabilities could be a smoking-gun signature of dark matter in Neutron stars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Hyperonic equation of state for neutron stars: A systematic Bayesian comparison of density-dependent and non-linear relativistic mean-field models

A systematic Bayesian inference study of the equation of state (EOS) of dense matter with strangeness is presented, extending five relativistic mean-field (RMF) models with both constant and density-dependent couplings to include the full baryon octet. The hyperon-nucleon couplings in the scalar channel are varied within ranges informed by hypernuclear data, while vector isoscalar couplings are fixed by the SU(6) symmetry quark model. Observational constraints from NICER (PSR J0030, J0437, J0740) and GW170817, theoretical constraints from chiral effective field theory ($χ$EFT) and perturbative QCD (pQCD), and experimental constraints from nuclear saturation properties are imposed simultaneously. We find that the inclusion of hyperons systematically reduces the maximum neutron star mass by $0.05$-$0.10,M_\odot$ across all models while increasing the radius at $1.4,M_\odot$ by $0.5$-$0.8$ km. The speed of sound exhibits a characteristic softening at densities $2$-$3,ρ_{\rm sat}$ coinciding with hyperon onset. All hyperonic models remain consistent with the $2,M_\odot$ constraint. Models with a more flexible isovector channel span a larger proton fraction when only nucleons are included. However, the extra flexibility is visibly suppressed by hyperons, meaning that the average proton distribution is independent of model flexibility when hyperons are included. Less flexible models show comparable or slightly increased proton fractions due to EOS stiffening when hyperons are included. Only a residual number of hyperonic equations of state give rise to a mass-radius curve with a negative slope at low masses. A $1.8,M_\odot$ neutron star with a radius larger than or similar to the radius of a $1.2,M_\odot$ star would provide strong evidence that the star contains baryonic degrees of freedom beyond nucleons.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Coupled nuclear and leptonic longitudinal collective modes in neutron star matter : a covariant Vlasov approach

A covariant relativistic approach based on the Vlasov equation is used to study collective modes in neutron-star matter. The analysis is carried out within relativistic mean-field models describing charge-neutral and $β$-equilibrated matter composed of neutrons, protons, electrons, and muons. We investigate the conditions under which nuclear collective excitations couple to electron and muon plasmon modes, a phenomenon relevant for neutron stars and supernova matter. The study is undertaken considering relativistic mean field models with different isoscalar and isovector properties. It is shown that the nuclear-leptonic coupling can be sufficiently strong to modify the onset of nuclear collective modes and to affect their isoscalar or isovector character.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Longitudinal collective modes in relativistic asymmetric magnetized nuclear matter within the covariant Vlasov approach

The neutron-proton-electron (npe) matter under strong magnetic field is studied in the context of the covariant Vlasov approach. A covariant relativistic approach based on the Vlasov equation is applied to the study of infinite asymmetric magnetized nuclear matter. We use several relativistic mean-field nuclear models with non-linear terms. The dispersion relations for the longitudinal modes are obtained, and the isovector and isoscalar collective modes are determined in a wide range of densities as a function of the isospin asymmetry, momentum transfer, and magnetic field. A strong magnetic field gives rise to the appearance of low-lying isovector modes that propagate in nuclear matter, not present in non-magnetized matter. Neutron-like modes are essentially not affected by the presence of a strong magnetic field. In the presence of a strong magnetic field, Landau quantization modifies the proton-like collective modes, leading to the emergence of new branches associated with distinct Landau levels. These new modes can propagate even at high densities and exhibit isoscalar or isovector character.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Hybrid Star Properties with NJL and MFTQCD Model: A Bayesian Approach

The composition of the core of neutron stars (NS) is still under debate. One possibility is that because of the high densities reached in their cores, matter could be deconfined into quark matter. We investigate the existence of hybrid stars, using microscopic models to describe different phases of matter. Within the adopted microscopic models we calculate properties of NS and properties of matter. We want to probe the pQCD calculations influence and analyze properties that identify a transition to deconfined matter. Bayesian approach is applied to generate 8 sets of equations of state (EOS). A Maxwell construction is adopted to describe the deconfinement transition. For the hadron phase, we consider a stiff and a soft EOS obtained from the Relativistic Mean Field model with nonlinear meson terms. For the quark phase, we use 2 different models: the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with multiquark interactions and the Mean Field Theory of QCD, a model similar to the vector MIT bag model. Bayesian inference was applied to determine the model parameters that satisfy the X-ray observations from NICER and have phase transition at densities between 0.15 - 0.40 fm$^{-3}$. We also applied restrictions from the pQCD calculations to half of the sets. Hybrid stars are compatible with current observational data. The pQCD restrictions reduce the value of the $M_{max}$. However, even applying this restriction, the models were able to reach values of $2.1 - 2.3 M_\odot$. The conformal limit was still not attained at the center of the most massive stars. The vector interactions are essential to describe hybrid stars with a mass above $2 M_\odot$. The multiquark interactions introduced may affect the limits of some quantities considered as indicators of the presence of a deconfined phase. It is possible to find a set of EOS, that predict that inside NS the renormalized matter trace anomaly is always positive.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

A Bayesian Inference of Hybrid Stars with Large Quark Cores

Neutron stars (NSs) are interesting objects capable of reaching densities unattainable on Earth. The properties of matter under these conditions remain a mystery. Exotic matter, including quark matter, may be present in the NS core. In this work, we explore the possible compositions of NS cores, in particular, the possible existence of large quark cores. We use the Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) model with nonlinear terms for the hadron phase and the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model and Mean Field Theory of Quantum Chromodynamics (MFTQCD) for the quark phase. Through Bayesian inference, we obtain different sets of equations: four sets with hybrid equations and one set with only the hadron phase. We impose constraints regarding the properties of nuclear matter, X-ray observational data from NICER, gravitational wave data from the binary neutron star merger GW170817, perturbative QCD (pQCD) calculations, and causality. The MFTQCD allows for a phase transition to quark matter at low densities, just above saturation density, while for the NJL sets, the phase transition occurs above twice the saturation density. As a result, the MFTQCD model predicts the presence of quark matter in the inner core of 1.4 M$_\odot$ NSs, while NJL models suggest a low probability of quark matter in the interior of a 1.4 M$_\odot$ NS. Both models predict the existence of quark matter in 2 M$_\odot$ NSs. The slope of the mass-radius curve has been shown to carry information about the presence of quark matter. In particular, a positive slope at 1.8 M$_\odot$ indicates the presence of non-nucleonic matter. A hybrid star with a stiff quark equation of state could explain a larger radius in more massive stars, such as two solar mass stars, compared to canonical NSs.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Medium effects on light clusters from heavy-ion collisions within a relativistic mean-field description

Central $^{136,124}$Xe$+^{124,112}$Sn collisions from INDRA data are analysed using a Bayesian inference on light nuclei multiplicities to estimate the thermodynamical parameters and in-medium modification of the cluster self-energies within a relativistic mean-field model. An excellent description of experimentally measured abundances of H and He isotopes is obtained. We examine two possible modelling of in-medium effects as an increased in-medium effective mass, or an increased vector repulsion. We show that these physical pictures cannot be discriminated by the data. In both cases, the temperature dependence of the meson couplings leads to a faster weakening of the light cluster abundances with temperature than previous studies predicted. Possible systematic errors due to out-of-equilibrium effects affecting the experimental abundances, are considered by repeating the Bayesian inference with reduced information. The abundance prediction of the species excluded from the constraint is well compatible with the experimental data, suggesting that there is no a priori need of accounting for non-equilibrium effects or finite state interactions that potentially affect the deuteron yield.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Learning the relations between neutron star and nuclear matter properties with symbolic regression

The equation of state (EOS) of dense matter in neutron stars (NSs) remains uncertain, particularly at supra-nuclear densities where complex nuclear interactions and the potential presence of exotic matter, like hyperons, come into play. The complex relationships existing between nuclear matter and neutron star properties are investigated. The focus is on their nonlinearities and interdependencies. In our analysis, we apply a machine learning algorithm known as symbolic regression, paired with principal component analysis, to datasets generated from Bayesian inference over relativistic mean-field models. A systematic Principal Component Analysis has allowed to break down the percentage contribution of each element or feature in the relationships obtained. This study examines two main models (datasets): the NL model, which includes nucleonic degrees of freedom; and the NL-hyp model, which includes hyperons in addition to nucleons. Our analysis confirms a robust correlation between the tidal deformability of a 1.4 $M_\odot$ neutron star and $β$-equilibrium pressure at twice the nuclear saturation density. This correlation remains once hyperons are included. The contribution of the different nuclear matter properties at saturation to the radius and tidal deformability was calculated. It was shown that the isovector properties have the largest impact, with a contribution of about 90\%. We also studied the relationship between the proton fraction at different densities and various symmetry energy parameters defined at saturation density. For the hyperon data set, we took into account the effects of the negatively charged hyperon $Ξ$ in order to recover the relationships. Our study reveals the individual impact of various symmetry energy parameters on proton fractions at different densities.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Covariant Energy Density Functionals for Neutron Star Matter Equation of State Modeling: Cross-Comparison Analysis Using \texttt{CompactObject}

This study analyzes and contrasts different phenomenological methods used to model the nuclear equation of state (EOS) for neutron star matter based on covariant energy density functionals (CEDF). Using two complementary methodologies, we seek to capture a comprehensive picture of the potential behaviors of ultra-dense nucleonic matter and identify the most plausible models based on current observational and experimental constraints. Observational data from radio pulsar timing, gravitational wave detection of GW170817, and X-ray timing provide critical benchmarks for testing the models. We have derived the EOS posteriors for various CEDF models within the \texttt{CompactObject} package, utilizing recent observational data on neutron stars, state-of-the-art theoretical constraints from chiral effective field theory ($χ$EFT) calculations for pure neutron matter at low densities, and pQCD-derived constraints. Our analysis has demonstrated that while all considered CEDF models broadly reproduce current astrophysical and theoretical constraints, subtle yet important differences persist among them, with each framework exhibiting distinct characteristics at supra-nuclear density. This is in particular true for the proton fraction inside neutron stars, but also supported by the models' behavior with respect to the pure neutron matter EOS and the density dependence of the speed of sound. Our study highlights the sensitivity of dense matter predictions to the underlying EOS parameterizations and the priors considered.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Learning about neutron star composition from the slope of the mass-radius diagram

The slope of the neutron star mass-radius curve, $dM/dR$, is studied to understand the information it may carry about the composition of neutron stars, particularly with regard to the presence of non-nucleonic degrees of freedom. This study uses two large sets of relativistic mean-field equations of state with either nucleonic or nucleonic and hyperonic degrees of freedom, and imposes constraints obtained from GW170817 and the pulsars PSR J0030+0451 and PSR J0740+6620. It is shown that: i) some mass-radius curves are characterized by a negative slope from one solar mass up to the maximum mass; ii) other equations of state (EoS) have a positive slope for a given range of masses below the maximum star mass. Within the set of models considered, the first set includes only a very small number of hyperonic EoS: less than 0.5\% of the total number of hyperonic stars and approximately one third of the nucleonic EoS. We have also analyzed the sign of the slope for neutron star masses of 1.2, 1.4 and 1.8$M_\odot$. Only approximately 1\% of hyperonic equations of state (EoS) predict a negative slope for 1.4$M_\odot$ stars, whereas over 90\% of nucleonic stars have a negative slope at this mass. Finally, almost all stars have a negative slope at 1.8$M_\odot$. A positive slope at 1.4$M_\odot$ may indicate the presence of non-nucleonic degrees of freedom within neutron stars. The nuclear matter property that distinguishes the different scenarios most clearly is the curvature of the symmetry energy. Nucleonic EoSs with a positive slope $dM/dR$ predict the highest values, which can exceed 100 MeV.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Neural Posterior Estimation of Neutron Star Equations of State

We present a simulation-based inference (SBI) framework to constrain the neutron star (NS) equation of state (EoS) from astrophysical observations of masses, radii and tidal deformabilities, using Neural posterior estimation (NPE) with Conditional Normalising Flows (CNF). To ensure that the model conforms with reality, physics-informed constraints are embedded directly into the training loss. This enables efficient, likelihood-free inference of full posterior distributions for key thermodynamic quantities-including pressure, squared speed of sound, and the trace anomaly-conditioned on observational data. Our models are trained on synthetic datasets generated from two agnostic EoS priors: polytropic parametrizations (PT) and gaussian process (GP) reconstructions. These datasets span various scenarios, including the presence or absence of tidal deformability information and observational noise. Across all settings, the method produces accurate and well-calibrated posteriors, with uncertainties reduced when tidal deformability constraints are included. Furthermore, we find that the behavior of normalized predictive dispersions is strongly correlated with the maximum central density inside NSs, suggesting that the model can indirectly infer this physically meaningful quantity. The approach generalizes well across EoS families and accurately reconstructs derivative quantities such as the polytropic index, demonstrating its robustness and potential for probing dense matter in NS cores.

nucl-th↗