Work

Multi-messenger and multi-band signal from first-order phase transitions in proto-neutron stars

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: A first-order phase transition (PT) alters a compact star on two scales: globally, via growth of a quark-matter core, and microscopically, via collision of quark bubbles, driving a simultaneous gravitational-wave (GW) emission in the kHz and MHz bands. Using a constrained ensemble of model-agnostic equations of state, we follow the accretion-driven evolution of proto-neutron stars through the PT and compute the resulting multi-band GW signal. The correlations found between the kHz emission and the MHz burst could help constrain nuclear matter and the physics of the PT. A delayed neutrino burst should accompany the signal, with the delay set by the details of the PT, thus providing a prime multi-messenger source.

Source: arXiv (Cornell University)

DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2609.29761

Authors: Ecker, Christian, Giliberti, Mauro, Rezzolla, Luciano

Institution: Goethe University Frankfurt

Language: English

Topic: Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Strong, Walter Greiner Gesellschaft, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Awards: G166579837, TRR 211: Stark wechselwirkende Materie unter extremen Bedingungen

OpenAlex ID: W7214307003

Cites: 80

Cited by: 3

Related to: 10