arXiv subjects

N. Stergioulas

Publications and source records attributed to N. Stergioulas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Neutron star mass-radius constraints using the high-frequency QPOs of GRB 200415A

Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in a giant flare of a strongly magnetized neutron star (magnetar), are carrying crucial information for extracting the neutron star properties. The aim of the study is to constrain the mass and radius of the neutron star model for GRB 200415A, by identifying the observed QPOs with the crustal torsional oscillations together with the experimental constraints on the nuclear matter properties. The frequencies of the crustal torsional oscillations are determined by solving the eigenvalue problem with the Cowling approximation, assuming a magnetic field of about $10^{15}$G. We find that the observed QPOs can be identified with several overtones of crustal oscillations, for carefully selected combinations of the nuclear saturation parameters. Thus, we can inversely constrain the neutron star mass and radius for GRB 200415A by comparing them to the values of nuclear saturation parameters obtained from terrestrial experiments. We impose further constraints on the neutron star mass and radius while the candidate neutron star models are consistent with the constraints obtained from other available astronomical and experimental observations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Synergies of THESEUS with the large facilities of the 2030s and guest observer opportunities

The proposed THESEUS mission will vastly expand the capabilities to monitor the high-energy sky, and will exploit large samples of gamma-ray bursts to probe the early Universe back to the first generation of stars, and to advance multi-messenger astrophysics by detecting and localizing the counterparts of gravitational waves and cosmic neutrino sources. The combination and coordination of these activities with multi-wavelength, multi-messenger facilities expected to be operating in the thirties will open new avenues of exploration in many areas of astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental physics, thus adding considerable strength to the overall scientific impact of THESEUS and these facilities. We discuss here a number of these powerful synergies.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2016

Dynamics and gravitational-wave emission of neutron-star merger remnants

The coalescence of a neutron-star binary is likely to result in the formation of a neutron-star merger remnant for a large range of binary mass configurations. The massive merger remnant shows strong oscillations, which are excited by the merging process, and emits gravitational waves. Here we discuss possibilities and prospects of inferring unknown stellar properties of neutron stars by the detection of postmerger gravitational-wave emission, which thus leads to constraints of the equation of state of high-density matter. In particular, the dominant oscillation frequency of the postmerger remnant provides tight limits to neutron-star radii. We mention first steps towards a practical implementation of future gravitational-wave searches for the postmerger emission. Moreover, we outline possibilities to estimate the unknown maximum mass of nonrotating neutron stars from such types of measurements. Finally, we review the origin and scientific implications of secondary peaks in the gravitational-wave spectrum of neutron-star mergers and differences in the dynamical behavior of the postmerger remnant depending on the binary configuration. These considerations lead to a unified picture of the post-merger gravitational-wave emission and the post-merger dynamics.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Magnetized neutron stars with superconducting cores: Effect of entrainment

We construct equilibrium configurations of magnetized, two-fluid neutron stars using an iterative numerical method. Working in Newtonian framework we assume that the neutron star has two regions: the core, which is modelled as a two-component fluid consisting of type-II superconducting protons and superfluid neutrons, and the crust, a region composed of normal matter. Taking a new step towards more complete equilibrium models, we include the effect of entrainment, which implies that a magnetic force acts on neutrons, too. We consider purely poloidal field cases and present improvements to an earlier numerical scheme for solving equilibrium equations, by introducing new convergence criteria. We find that entrainment results in qualitative differences in the structure of field lines along the magnetic axis.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

A unified picture of the post-merger dynamics and gravitational wave emission in neutron-star mergers

We introduce a classification scheme of the post-merger dynamics and gravitational-wave emission in binary neutron star mergers, after identifying a new mechanism by which a secondary peak in the gravitational-wave spectrum is produced. It is caused by a spiral deformation, the pattern of which rotates slower with respect to the double-core structure in center of the remnant. This secondary peak is typically well separated in frequency from the secondary peak produced by a nonlinear interaction between a quadrupole and a quasi-radial oscillation. The new mechanism allows for an explanation of low-frequency modulations seen in a number of physical characteristics of the remnant, such as the central lapse function, the maximum density and the separation between the two cores. We find empirical relations for both types of secondary peaks between their gravitational-wave frequency and the compactness of nonrotating individual neutron stars, that exist for fixed total binary masses. These findings are derived for equal-mass binaries without intrinsic neutron-star spin analyzing hydrodynamical simulations without magnetic field effects. Our classification scheme may form the basis for the construction of detailed gravitational-wave templates of the post-merger phase. We find that the quasi-radial oscillation frequency of the remnant decreases with the total binary mass. For a given merger event our classification scheme may allow to determine the proximity of the measured total binary mass to the threshold mass for prompt black hole formation, which can, in turn, yield an estimate of the maximum neutron-star mass.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Inferring neutron-star properties from gravitational-wave signals of binary mergers

The oscillations of a merger remnant forming after the coalescence of two neutron stars are very characteristic for the high-density equation of state. The dominant oscillation frequency occurs as a pronounced peak in the kHz range of the gravitational-wave spectrum. We describe how the dominant oscillation frequency of the remnant can be employed to infer the radii of non-rotating neutron stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

Prospects For High Frequency Burst Searches Following Binary Neutron Star Coalescence With Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors

The equation of state plays a critical role in the physics of the merger of two neutron stars. Recent numerical simulations with microphysical equation of state suggest the outcome of such events depends on the mass of the neutron stars. For less massive systems, simulations favor the formation of a hypermassive, quasi-stable neutron star, whose oscillations produce a short, high frequency burst of gravitational radiation. Its dominant frequency content is tightly correlated with the radius of the neutron star, and its measurement can be used to constrain the supranuclear equation of state. In contrast, the merger of higher mass systems results in prompt gravitational collapse to a black hole. We have developed an algorithm which combines waveform reconstruction from a morphology-independent search for gravitational wave transients with Bayesian model selection, to discriminate between post-merger scenarios and accurately measure the dominant oscillation frequency. We demonstrate the efficacy of the method using a catalogue of simulated binary merger signals in data from LIGO and Virgo, and we discuss the prospects for this analysis in advanced ground-based gravitational wave detectors. From the waveforms considered in this work and assuming an optimally oriented source, we find that the post-merger neutron star signal may be detectable by this technique to $\sim 10\text{--}25$\,Mpc. We also find that we successfully discriminate between the post-merger scenarios with $\sim 95\%$ accuracy and determine the dominant oscillation frequency of surviving post-merger neutron stars to within $\sim 10$\,Hz, averaged over all detected signals. This leads to an uncertainty in the estimated radius of a non-rotating 1.6\,M$_{\odot}$ reference neutron star of $\sim 100\,$m.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Revealing the high-density equation of state through binary neutron star mergers

We present a novel method for revealing the equation of state of high-density neutron star matter through gravitational waves emitted during the postmerger phase of a binary neutron star system. The method relies on a small number of detections of the peak frequency in the postmerger phase for binaries of different (relatively low) masses, in the most likely range of expected detections. From such observations, one can construct the derivative of the peak frequency versus the binary mass, in this mass range. Through a detailed study of binary neutron star mergers for a large sample of equations of state, we show that one can extrapolate the above information to the highest possible mass (the threshold mass for black hole formation in a binary neutron star merger). In turn, this allows for an empirical determination of the maximum mass of cold, nonrotating neutron stars to within 0.1 M_sun, while the corresponding radius is determined to within a few percent. Combining this with the determination of the radius of cold, nonrotating neutron stars of 1.6 M_sun (to within a few percent, as was demonstrated in Bauswein et al., PRD, 86, 063001, 2012), allows for a clear distinction of a particular candidate equation of state among a large set of other candidates. Our method is particularly appealing because it reveals simultaneously the moderate and very high-density parts of the equation of state, enabling the distinction of mass-radius relations even if they are similar at typical neutron star masses. Furthermore, our method also allows to deduce the maximum central energy density and maximum central rest-mass density of cold, nonrotating neutron stars with an accuracy of a few per cent.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

The runaway instability in general relativistic accretion disks

When an accretion disk falls prey to the runaway instability, a large portion of its mass is devoured by the black hole within a few dynamical times. Despite decades of effort, it is still unclear under what conditions such an instability can occur. The technically most advanced relativistic simulations to date were unable to find a clear sign for the onset of the instability. In this work, we present three-dimensional relativistic hydrodynamics simulations of accretion disks around black holes in dynamical space-time. We focus on the configurations that are expected to be particularly prone to the development of this instability. We demonstrate, for the first time, that the fully self-consistent general relativistic evolution does indeed produce a runaway instability.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2007

Torsional Oscillations of Relativistic Stars with Dipole Magnetic Fields

We present the formalism and numerical results for torsional oscillations of relativistic stars endowed with a strong dipole magnetic field. We do a systematic search of parameter space by computing torsional mode frequencies for various values of the harmonic index $\ell$ and for various overtones, using an extended sample of models of compact stars, varying in mass, high-density equation of state and crust model. We show that torsional mode frequencies are sensitive to the crust model if the high-density equation of state is very stiff. In addition, torsional mode frequencies are drastically affected by a dipole magnetic field, if the latter has a strength exceeding roughly $10^{15}$G and we find that the magnetic field effects are sensitive to the adopted crust model. Using our extended numerical results we derive empirical relations for the effect of the magnetic field on torsional modes as well as for the crust thickness. We compare our numerical results to observed frequencies in SGRs and find that certain high-density EoS and mass values are favored over others in the non-magnetized limit. On the other hand, if the magnetic field is strong, then its effect has to be taken into account in attempts to formulate a theory of asteroseismology for magnetars.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Torsional Oscillations of Relativistic Stars with Dipole Magnetic Fields II. Global Alfvén Modes

We investigate torsional Alfvén modes of relativistic stars with a global dipole magnetic field. It has been noted recently (Glampedakis et al. 2006) that such oscillation modes could serve as as an alternative explanation (in contrast to torsional crustal modes) for the SGR phenomenon, if the magnetic field is not confined to the crust. We compute global Alfvén modes for a representative sample of equations of state and magnetar masses, in the ideal MHD approximation and ignoring $\ell \pm 2$ terms in the eigenfunction. We find that the presence of a realistic crust has a negligible effect on Alfvén modes for $B > 4\times 10^{15}$ G. Furthermore, we find strong avoided crossings between torsional Alfvén modes and torsional crust modes. For magnetar-like magnetic field strengths, the spacing between consecutive Alfvén modes is of the same order as the gap of avoided crossings. As a result, it is not possible to identify modes of predominantly crustal character and all oscillations are predominantly Alfvén-like. Interestingly, we find excellent agreement between our computed frequencies and observed frequencies in two SGRs, for a maximum magnetic field strenght in the range of (0.8--1.2)$\times 10^{16}$ G.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Three-dimensional relativistic simulations of rotating neutron-star collapse to a Kerr black hole

We present a new three-dimensional fully general-relativistic hydrodynamics code using high-resolution shock-capturing techniques and a conformal traceless formulation of the Einstein equations. Besides presenting a thorough set of tests which the code passes with very high accuracy, we discuss its application to the study of the gravitational collapse of uniformly rotating neutron stars to Kerr black holes. The initial stellar models are modelled as relativistic polytropes which are either secularly or dynamically unstable and with angular velocities which range from slow rotation to the mass-shedding limit. We investigate the gravitational collapse by carefully studying not only the dynamics of the matter, but also that of the trapped surfaces, i.e. of both the apparent and event horizons formed during the collapse. The use of these surfaces, together with the dynamical horizon framework, allows for a precise measurement of the black-hole mass and spin. The ability to successfully perform these simulations for sufficiently long times relies on excising a region of the computational domain which includes the singularity and is within the apparent horizon. The dynamics of the collapsing matter is strongly influenced by the initial amount of angular momentum in the progenitor star and, for initial models with sufficiently high angular velocities, the collapse can lead to the formation of an unstable disc in differential rotation. All the simulations performed with uniformly rotating initial data and a polytropic or ideal-fluid equation of state show no evidence of shocks or of the presence of matter on stable orbits outside the black hole.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Spin-down of Relativistic Stars with Phase Transitions and PSR J0537-6910

Using a highly accurate numerical code, we study the spin down of rotating relativistic stars, undergoing a quark deconfinement phase transition. Such phase transitions have been suggested to yield an observable signal in the braking index of spinning-down pulsars, which is based on a ``backbending'' behaviour of the moment of inertia. We focus on a particular equation of state that has been used before to study this behaviour, and find that for the population of normal pulsars the moment of inertia does not exhibit a backbending behaviour. In contrast, for supramassive millisecond pulsars a very strong backbending behaviour is found. Essentially, once a quark core appears in a spinning-down supramassive millisecond pulsar, the star spins up and continues to do so until it reaches the instability to collapse. This strong spin-up behaviour makes it easier to distinguish a phase transition in such pulsars: a negative first time-derivative of the rotational period suffices and one does not have to measure the braking index. In the spin-up era, the usually adopted spin-down power law fails to describe the evolution of the angular velocity. We adopt a general-relativistic spin-down power law and derive the equations that describe the angular velocity and braking index evolution in rapidly rotating pulsars.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Nonlinear r-Modes in Neutron Stars: Instability of an unstable mode

We study the dynamical evolution of a large amplitude r-mode by numerical simulations. R-modes in neutron stars are unstable growing modes, driven by gravitational radiation reaction. In these simulations, r-modes of amplitude unity or above are destroyed by a catastrophic decay: A large amplitude r-mode gradually leaks energy into other fluid modes, which in turn act nonlinearly with the r-mode, leading to the onset of the rapid decay. As a result the r-mode suddenly breaks down into a differentially rotating configuration. The catastrophic decay does not appear to be related to shock waves at the star's surface. The limit it imposes on the r-mode amplitude is significantly smaller than that suggested by previous fully nonlinear numerical simulations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

An unusually low mass of some "neutron" stars?

The X-ray emission of RXJ1856.5-3754 has been found to coincide to unprecedented accuracy with that of a blackbody, of radius 5.8+-0.9 km for the measured parallax distance of 140 pc (Burwitz et al. 2001, Drake et al. 2002). If the emission is uniform over the whole surface of a non-rotating star, the mass of the star cannot exceed 0.75+-0.12 solar mass regardless of its composition. If the compact object is a quark star described by the MIT-bag equation of state (a ``strange star''), the mass is no more than 0.3 solar mass. Comparably small masses are also obtained for the X-ray bursters Aql X-1 and KS1731-260 for some fits to their spectra.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Time evolution of the linear perturbations of a rotating Newtonian polytrope

We present the results of numerical time evolutions of the linearised perturbations of rapidly and rigidly rotating Newtonian polytropes while making the Cowling approximation. The evolution code runs stably for hundreds of stellar rotations, allowing us to compare our results with previously published eigenmode calculations, for instance the f-mode calculations of Ipser & Lindblom, and the r-mode calculations of Karino et al. The mode frequencies were found to be in agreement within the expected accuracy. We have also examined the inertial modes recently computed by Lockitch & Friedman, and we were able to extend their slow-rotation results into the rapid rotation regime. In the longer term, this code will provide a platform for studying a number of poorly understood problems in stellar oscillation theory, such as the effect of differential rotation and gravitational radiation reaction on normal mode oscillations and, with suitable modifications, mode-mode coupling in the mildly non-linear regime.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Lower limits on the maximum orbital frequency around rotating strange stars

Observations of kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the X-ray fluxes of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) have been used in attempts to constrain the external metric of the compact members of these binaries, as well as their masses and the equation of state of matter at supranuclear denisties. We compute the maximum orbital frequency of stable circular motion around uniformly rotating strange stars described by the MIT bag model. The calculations are performed for both normal and supramassive constant baryon mass sequences of strange stars rotating at all possible rates. We find the lower limits on the maximum orbital frequency and discuss them for a range of masses and for all rotational frequencies allowed in the model considered. We show that for slowly and moderately rotating strange stars the maximum value of orbital frequency can be a good indicator of the mass of the compact object. However, for rapidly rotating strange stars the same value of orbital frequency in the innermost stable circular orbit is obtained for stars with masses ranging from that of a planetoid to about three solar masses. At sufficiently high rotation rates of the strange star, the rotational period alone constrains the stellar mass to a surprisingly narrow range.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Three-dimensional general relativistic hydrodynamics II: long-term dynamics of single relativistic stars

This is the second in a series of papers on the construction and validation of a three-dimensional code for the solution of the coupled system of the Einstein equations and of the general relativistic hydrodynamic equations, and on the application of this code to problems in general relativistic astrophysics. In particular, we report on the accuracy of our code in the long-term dynamical evolution of relativistic stars and on some new physics results obtained in the process of code testing. The tests involve single non-rotating stars in stable equilibrium, non-rotating stars undergoing radial and quadrupolar oscillations, non-rotating stars on the unstable branch of the equilibrium configurations migrating to the stable branch, non-rotating stars undergoing gravitational collapse to a black hole, and rapidly rotating stars in stable equilibrium and undergoing quasi-radial oscillations. The numerical evolutions have been carried out in full general relativity using different types of polytropic equations of state using either the rest-mass density only, or the rest-mass density and the internal energy as independent variables. New variants of the spacetime evolution and new high resolution shock capturing (HRSC) treatments based on Riemann solvers and slope limiters have been implemented and the results compared with those obtained from previous methods. Finally, we have obtained the first eigenfrequencies of rotating stars in full general relativity and rapid rotation. A long standing problem, such frequencies have not been obtained by other methods. Overall, and to the best of our knowledge, the results presented in this paper represent the most accurate long-term three-dimensional evolutions of relativistic stars available to date.

gr-qc↗