A model-agnostic analysis of hybrid stars with reactive interfaces

Abstract

We study hybrid stars considering the effects on stellar stability of the hadron-quark conversion speed at the sharp interface. The equation of state is constructed by combining a model-agnostic hadronic description with a constant speed of sound model for quark matter. We show that current LIGO/Virgo, NICER, low-density nuclear and high-density perturbative QCD constraints can be satisfied in two scenarios, with low and high transition pressures. If the conversion speed at the interface is slow, a new class of dynamically stable hybrid objects is possible and very stiff hadronic equations of state cannot be discarded. Densities tens of times larger than the nuclear saturation density are possible at the center of these objects. We discuss possible formation mechanisms for the new class of hybrid stars and smoking guns for their observational identification.