Population synthesis of compact objects: neutron stars, strange (quark) stars and black holes

Abstract

We compute and present the distribution in mass of single and binary neutron stars, strange stars, and black holes. The calculations were performed using a stellar population synthesis code. We follow evolution of massive single stars as well as binaries with high mass primaries. The final product of the latter evolution can be either a binary composed of a white dwarf and a compact object (neutron star, black hole, strange star), two compact objects in a binary, or two single stars if the system was disrupted. We find in binaries a population of black holes which are more massive than single black holes which are a product of either binary or single evolution. We also find that if quark stars exist at all, their population can be as large as the population of black holes.