Speaker
Description
We investigate observable signatures of strong phase transitions in neutron star cores through two complementary approaches. First, we analyze the oscillation spectrum of isolated neutron stars hosting a sharp density discontinuity, comparing full general relativistic simulations with results from the Cowling approximation. This reveals the behavior of interface modes that could become tidally excited in binary systems or emit gravitational waves during merger.
Second, we present preliminary results from magnetized binary neutron star merger simulations where the stars begin in a purely hadronic phase and undergo a phase transition to quark matter during coalescence. We examine how the presence of a sharp interface affects magnetic field amplification in the postmerger remnant and the mass of the surrounding matter torus, both critical factors for kilonova emission. Our findings suggest that phase transitions may leave distinctive imprints on electromagnetic counterparts, particularly in the prompt blue kilonova component, offering a new avenue for constraining the high-density equation of state through multi-messenger observations
