Heavy Neutron Star Phenomenology with an H-dibaryon

Abstract

The equation of state for dense nuclear matter in $\beta$-equilibrium is explored including the possibility of a doubly-strange H-particle. Consistent with experimental constraints, the mass of the H in free space is taken to be near the $\Lambda \, \Lambda$ threshold. Within the quark-meson coupling model, which we use, no new parameters are required to describe the interaction between the H-dibaryon and the other baryons. The maximum mass is only slightly reduced, and the tidal deformability is essentially unchanged with this addition. In heavy neutron stars the H is abundant and extends as far as 6 km from the center of the core.