A pseudo-conformal equation of state in compact-star matter from topology change and hidden symmetries of QCD

Abstract

We construct a new effective field theory approach to the equation of state (EoS), dubbed pseudo-confomal model "PCM," for nuclear and compact star matter entirely in terms of effective hadron degrees of freedom. The possible transition at $n\sim (2-4) n_0$ (where $n_0$ is the normal nuclear matter density) from hadron degrees of freedom to strongly-coupled quark degrees of freedom, giving rise to a soft-to-hard changeover in the EoS that can accommodate the massive stars observed, is effectuated by the topology change at $n_{1/2}\gsim 2n_0$ from skyrmions to half-skyrmions without involving local order-parameter fields. The mechanism exploits possible emergence of hidden scale and local symmetries of QCD at high density, leading to a precocious "pseudo-conformal" sound velocity $v_s^2=1/3$ (in unit of $c=1$) for $n\gsim 3n_0$. The resulting prediction signals a drastic departure from standard nuclear many-body theory in the density regime involved in the massive stars. We suggest that the tidal deformability implemented in gravitational waves coming from coalescing neutron stars in LIGO/Virgo-type observations could pin down the location of the topology change density $n_{1/2}$.