First Order Phase Transitions in Neutron star Matter: Droplets and Coherent Neutrino Scattering

Abstract

A first order phase transition at high baryon density implies that a mixed phase can occupy a significant region of the interior of a neutron star. In this article we investigate the effect of a droplet phase on neutrino transport inside the core. Two specific scenarios of the phase transition are examined, one having a kaon condensate and the other having quark matter in the high density phase. The coherent scattering of neutrinos off the droplets greatly increases the neutrino opacity of the mixed phase. We comment on how the existence of such a phase will affect a supernova neutrino signal.