Is The Trace Anomaly at its Minimum Value at Neutron Star Centers?

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Cai, Bao-Jun, Li, Bao-An, Ma, Yu-Gang
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Cai, Bao-Jun
Li, Bao-An
Ma, Yu-Gang
author_facet Cai, Bao-Jun
Li, Bao-An
Ma, Yu-Gang
contents While the equation of state (EOS) $P(\varepsilon)$ of neutron star (NS) matter has been extensively studied, the EOS-parameter $ϕ= P/\varepsilon$ or equivalently the dimensionless trace anomaly $Δ= 1/3 - ϕ$, which quantifies the balance between pressure $P$ and energy density $\varepsilon$, remains far less explored, especially in NS cores. Its bounds and density profile carry crucial information about the nature of superdense matter. Physically, the EOS-parameter $ϕ$ represents the mean stiffness of matter accumulated from the stellar surface up to a given density. Based on the intrinsic structure of the Tolman--Oppenheimer--Volkoff equations, we show that $ϕ$ decreases monotonically outward from the NS center, independent of any specific input NS EOS model. Furthermore, observational evidence of a peak in the speed-of-sound squared (SSS) density-profile near the center effectively rules out a valley and a subsequent peak in the radial profile of $ϕ$ at similar densities, reinforcing its monotonic decrease. These model-independent relations impose strong constraints on the near-center behavior of the EOS-parameter $ϕ$, particularly demonstrating that the mean stiffness (or equivalently $Δ$) reaches a local maximum (minimum) at the center.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_03714
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Is The Trace Anomaly at its Minimum Value at Neutron Star Centers?
Cai, Bao-Jun
Li, Bao-An
Ma, Yu-Gang
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
High Energy Physics - Theory
Nuclear Experiment
Nuclear Theory
While the equation of state (EOS) $P(\varepsilon)$ of neutron star (NS) matter has been extensively studied, the EOS-parameter $ϕ= P/\varepsilon$ or equivalently the dimensionless trace anomaly $Δ= 1/3 - ϕ$, which quantifies the balance between pressure $P$ and energy density $\varepsilon$, remains far less explored, especially in NS cores. Its bounds and density profile carry crucial information about the nature of superdense matter. Physically, the EOS-parameter $ϕ$ represents the mean stiffness of matter accumulated from the stellar surface up to a given density. Based on the intrinsic structure of the Tolman--Oppenheimer--Volkoff equations, we show that $ϕ$ decreases monotonically outward from the NS center, independent of any specific input NS EOS model. Furthermore, observational evidence of a peak in the speed-of-sound squared (SSS) density-profile near the center effectively rules out a valley and a subsequent peak in the radial profile of $ϕ$ at similar densities, reinforcing its monotonic decrease. These model-independent relations impose strong constraints on the near-center behavior of the EOS-parameter $ϕ$, particularly demonstrating that the mean stiffness (or equivalently $Δ$) reaches a local maximum (minimum) at the center.
title Is The Trace Anomaly at its Minimum Value at Neutron Star Centers?
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
High Energy Physics - Theory
Nuclear Experiment
Nuclear Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.03714