Probing up-down quark matter via gravitational waves

Abstract

Recently, it was shown that quark matter with only $u$ and $d$ quarks ($ud$QM) can be the ground state of matter for baryon numbers $A>A_\textrm{min}$ with $A_{\rm min}\gtrsim 300$. In this paper, we explore $ud$ quark stars ($ud$QSs) that are composed of $ud$QM, in the context of the two-families scenario in which $ud$QSs and hadronic stars (HSs) can coexist. Distinct signatures are discussed compared to the conventional study regarding strange quark stars (SQSs). We show that the requirements of $A_{\rm min}\gtrsim 300$ and the most massive compact star observed being a $ud$QS together may put stringent constraints on the allowed parameter space of $ud$QSs. Then, we study the related gravitational-wave probe of the tidal deformability in binary star mergers, including the $ud$QS-$ud$QS and $ud$QS-HS cases. The obtained values of the tidal deformability at 1.4 solar masses and the average tidal deformability are all in good compatibility with the experimental constraints of GW170817. This study points to a new possible interpretation of the GW170817 binary merger event, where $ud$QS may be at least one component of the binary system detected.