Recent Papers



Our Work

" Strangeness is the cancer of neutron stars" - Rachid Ouyed

What is the Quark Nova Project

The Quark Nova Project (QNP) is a group of scientists based out of the University of Calgary who are dedicated to the investigation of quark novae (QNe). A quark nova (QN) is the violent explosion resulting from the conversion of a neutron star core to quark matter through a process known as quark deconfinement. The result is a star made entirely of quarks; the quark star. This process would release immense amounts of energy, perhaps explaining the most energetic explosions in the universe; rough calculations have estimated that as much as 1047 joules of energy could be released from the phase transition inside a neutron star. Quark-novae explain a multitude of astrophysical phenomena from gamma ray bursts through super-luminous super novae.



Our Research Motivation

Our understanding of the formation of elements, particularly those heavier than iron, under the current paradigm of nucleosynthesis in supernova shocks with minor contributions from low-mass stars and neutron star mergers is severely strained. The energy required to produce the heavy element abundance seen in our Sun is too great for supernovae alone. While the addition of nucleosynthesis from neutron star mergers helps, these events occur much too infrequently to account for the peaks in the observed heavy element abundance. All recent work in the field of astrophysical nucleosynthesis has pointed to the need for another site for heavy element formation, such as that provided by the Quark-Nova. In addition to the heavy element mystery, other unexplained observations including titanium enriched supernovae, early chemical enrichment and the lithium plateau have placed severe constraints on current astrophysical models. For years these models have tried, but ultimately failed at explaining the observations. The time is ripe to explore fresh, new ideas in an attempt to solve these puzzles. The Quark-Nova is an exciting new mechanism for astrophysical nucleosynthesis, the potential of which has only begun to be realized. Preliminary studies of different Quark-Nova scenarios have provided remarkable insight into these astrophysical problems and more detailed investigations are eagerly anticipated.

The theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) describes the strong force and how quarks and gluons interact. QCD is a well-developed theory but lacks experimental verification. Large, costly experiments at accelerators such as the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), and the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) are currently testing the theory on a femtosecond scale. On the other hand, studying neutron stars and how they lead to Quark-Novae provide a natural stable environment to test QCD. Studying these phenomena will therefore lead to a greater understanding of QCD which works hand in hand with laboratories here on Earth by providing clues as to which energy regimes future experiments should target.

Recent astronomical observations of objects including super-luminous supernovae, an increasing number of Extremely Metal-poor (EMP) stars, constraints on reionization of the physics of the first stars, and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may all share a common thread; the Quark-Nova.

These recent developments in QCD and astrophysics connect naturally with a need to understand the role of quarks and nuclei in astrophysics - the Quark-Nova model provides the ideal arena to explore these ideas.



Research Interests

Going Wherever the Quark Nova Takes Us

Topics

Our research into "Dark Energy" (DE) is not about trying to discover what it is, but rather looking at how the Quark Nova can skew observations that claim to support its existence. By observing Type Ia supernovae, astronomers in the late 1990's were able to conclude that the Universe is not only expanding, but doing so at an ever increasing rate. This required the existence of an unknown, repulsive force which astronomers dubbed "Dark Energy". The nature of DE is still unknown to this day despite countless man-hours and an investment of millions of dollars. The discovery of DE depended on two "properties" of Type Ia supernovae: I) They are standardizable candles, i.e. their distance can be linked to their observed brightness and II) they are standardizable at all red-shifts, i.e. across all time.

Consider a close neutron star (NS) /white dwarf (WD) binary system. Mass will transfer from the WD onto the NS, pushing the NS over the critical mass and it will experience a QN. The ejecta from the QN will hit the WD, causing it to explode as a Type Ia supernova (the spectrum will be almost indistinguishable from a Chandrasekhar type explosion). The Type Ia explosion will quickly engulf the remnant quark star which will add additional spin-down energy to the envelope. The higher the spin rate of the quark star, the more energy will be imparted. This spin-down energy will alter the light curve of the Type Ia explosion.

This scenario neatly explains the different types of Type Ia light curves observed and also the empirical Phillips relation which is the primary ways in which Type Ia supernovae are standardizable. We have shown in our work that Type Ia supernovae resulting from the aforementioned scenario are NOT standardizable and indeed vary over distance (red-shift). This has enormous consequences if the QN is responsible for the majority of Type Ia events, and removes the need for dark energy to explain Type Ia observations.

Relevant Papers

Super-Luminous Super-Novae (SLSNe) are supernovae (SNe) which are exceptionally bright. We model SLSNe using a dual-shock Quark Nova (QN) model. In this scenario a neutron star experiences a QN a few weeks after the initial supernova explosion. The QN ejecta is travelling faster than the SN ejecta and the two collide within a month. The SN ejecta is shocked and re-energized to temperatures above 1x108 K. Since the ejecta is now much larger (it has had a month to expand) it becomes extremely bright when shocked, giving rise to a SLSNe.

Relevant Papers

Soft Gamma Repeaters (SGRs) and Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars (AXPs) are observationally thought to be related phenomena. These are objects that emit large bursts of gamma-ray and X-ray radiation at seemingly random intervals. We model AXPs and SGRs as an isolated quark star surrounded by either a degenerate shell of fall-back quark nova ejecta (SGRs) or a degenerate Keplerian disk of fall-back quark nova ejecta (AXPs). In both cases, the bursts are triggered when chunks of the shell/disk break off and accrete onto the quark star. The material is immediately converted to quark matter, releasing an enormous amount of energy which we observe as the burst. The size and location of the chunk determines the intensity and timing of the burst.

Relevant Papers

About Us

Learn About our Team.

Professor/Founder
Rachid Ouyed

Rachid Ouyed

Rachid's main research interests are in Astrophysical Jets and Compact stars. His investigations of astrophysical jets consists of 2D and 3D High Performance Computational studies of (relativistic and non-relativistic) Magneto-Hydrodynamic Jets from newly born stars and black holes. Rachid has also investigated neutrino and photon emission mechanisms in quark matter with implication to explosive astrophysics.

Professor
Denis Leahy

Denis Leahy

Denis' main areas of research are: Compact Objects, X-ray Binaries and Supernova Remnants. He also contributes to instrument development, most recently the detectors for the UVIT telescopes on the ASTROSAT space mission.

Post Doc / Software Developer / Webmaster
Nico Koning

Nico Koning

Nico is a post-doc at the University of Calgary studying the morphology of proto and planetary nebulae in addition to quark novae. Nico is co-author of the Shape software which assists in 3D modeling of astrophysical phenomena. Nico is also interested in the development of astronomical software that is intuitive, powerful and easy to use. Nico is also the webmaster of the QNP site.

PhD Candidate
Mathew Kostka

Mathew Kostka

As a PhD student at the University of Calgary Matt investigates the spectroscopic behavior of quark novae and quark stars. Along with this work Matt studies nucleosynthesis of heavy elements during the quark nova explosion.

Freelance Researcher
Brian Niebergal

Brian Niebergal

Brian's research is focused on the transition from hadronic (nucleated) matter to a quark-gluon plasma (QGP). Most recently he has been exploring the process where hadronic matter is "burnt" into strange-quark matter (SQM). To do this Brian has developed a computer program that numerically solves the equations of (fully-compressible hydrodynamical) burning to strange-quark matter. He has found that the inclusion of neutrinos is incredibly important, as they can result in a new kind of instability.

Post Doc
Jan Staff

Jan Staff

Jan's research interests are focused around three broad topics: (i) Gamma ray bursts: investigating and developing models for the inner engine for both short and long gamma ray bursts based on a quark star as the central engine. (ii) Fluid dynamics: hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic 3D simulations of protostellar jets, jets from black holes, merging white dwarfs, common envelopes, pulsar wind nebula bow shocks. (iii) Physics of compact stars: studying the structure of rapidly rotating neutron stars and investigating suitable conditions that can lead to quark novae.

Professor
Prashanth Jaikumar

Prashanth Jaikumar

Prashanth's research interests center on theoretical and computational challenges at the interface of Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics. He studies the properties of Neutron stars, particularly their interior composition and astrophysical signals of exotic phases such as color superconducting matter. Prashanth is also interested in investigating new sites for r-process nucleosynthesis such as the Quark-Nova and the connection between Neutron stars and gravitational waves. Some of his technical tools are: Field Theory, Particle Physics and Numerical Programming.

Professor / Media Expert
Wolfgang Steffen

Wolfgang Steffen

Wolfgang works mainly on the interface between theoretical studies of hydrodynamic flows and their observations, developing effective ways to directly compare observations of particular objects with complex theoretical models. He has developed models for the kinematics and brightness variations in relativistic helical radio jets and the hydrodynamic interaction of radio jets with the interstellar medium in Seyfert galaxies.

PHD Student
Amir Ouyed

Amir Ouyed

Amir is currently working on a nuclear spallation code to help determine the abundance of elements created in a dual shock Quark Nova.

MSc
Zachary Shand

Zachary Shand

Zachary is doing an MSc in astrophysics at the University of Calgary. He has been doing research on nucleosynthesis in supernova explosions, focusing specifically the extent to which supernova are able to contribute to the production of heavy elements in the r-process.

MSc
Luis Welbanks

Luis Welbanks

Luis is a masters student at the University of Calgary interested in the nature of the engines powering Superluminous Supernovae (SLSNe). As an undergraduate student he worked for the Quark-Nova group looking at dark matter seeding and other mechanisms that could seed the transition from Hadronic to Quark matter. Calgary.

PHD Student
Camille Charignon

Camille Charignon

For his Masters Degree, Camille worked in Calgary on the neutron captures in very neutron rich environment and studied the r-process in the context of Quark-Novae. As a PhD student at the CEA or Center for Atomic Energie, he investigates the turbulent thermonuclear combustion in Supernovae type Ia. Studing both subsonic (deflagration) and supersonic (detonation) flame propagation and its interaction with turbulence, the main objectif being to simulate consitently a Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT), which would help models fit the observations.

Multimedia

Animations, pod-casts and photo albums

Quark Nova Feature Animation

This animation shows how a massive star ends its life through a supernova followed by a quark nova explosion. It also demonstrates the reheating of the supernova remnant via a dual shock quark nova giving rise to a superluminous supernova.

Quark Nova Binary System Animation

This animation shows a binary system where the neutron star goes Quark Nova. This scenario is part of an investigation into low-mass x-ray binaries with massive neutron stars to explain soft-hard gamma-ray bursts.



Slacker Astronomy Podcast

On January 13 2011, Slacker Astronomy interviewed Rachid Ouyed concerning quark novae.





  • TRIUMF Winter Nuclear & Particle Physics Conference - Banff 2011


  • Mount Yamnuska Hike 2011


  • Banff International Research Station (BIRS) Workshop (2012)

Software

At the Quark Nova Project we strive to create easy to use, platform independant software that is freely available to the public. Please feel free to use any of the programs listed below, and if you have questions or would like to see featured added please let us know!



SirOp

SiRop is an evolution of an earlier r-process code (r-Java) which was developed specifically to perform sensitivity studies. In other words, we wanted a program that we could use to run automated or “script-like” execution of code. This involved a complete rework of the user interface an addition of code to perform automated queueing, execution and analysis of r-process simulations

 



SHAPE

Shape is a morpho-kinematic modeling and reconstruction tool for astrophysical objects. With this software you can quickly construct 3D model structures and directly compare them with data in order to assist in the interpretation of observations. From such a 3D structure model with a model velocity field and emission properties, it generates images and position-velocity (pv) diagrams, channel maps, light echoes, light curves and one dimensional spectral line shape, to mention a few. Wavelength dependent radiation transfer for line emission and scattering on dust is also possible.

 



r-Java

We present r-Java 2.0, an r-process nucleosynthesis code equipped with a simple-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) that solves a full reaction network of over 8000 nuclei. Built to be an instrument for the nuclear physics and astrophysics community, r-Java 2.0 allows users to test the effects of varying nuclear reaction rates as well as study the r-process in a host of different astrophysical environments. On top of solving an r-process reaction network over a large range of input parameters r-Java 2.0 computes; nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE) distributions, fission mass fragmentation and allows for the investigation of individual nuclear reactions.

 



DIGIGET

Digiget is a digitization program that converts graphs from images (perhaps from a publication) to ascii data points. It has an easy to use interface and is remarkably powerful. The current version is beta, so please let us know if you have any problems or would like to see features added.

 





Burn-UD

BURN-UD is a code that solves the equations of hydrodynamical combustion. It solves the equations explicitly in time using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme; spatial derivatives are treated separately, as per the Method of Lines. The spatial derivatives include advection which is treated with a third-order upwinded, ?ux-limited, ?nite-volume scheme and difusion and pressure terms, which are second-order, not upwinded, and treated separately from the advection terms (ie. not ?ux-limited).

 



JetGet

JETGET is a visualization and analysis tool we developed for accessing data stored in Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) and ASCII files. Although JETGET has been optimized to handle data output from jet simulations using the Zeus code from NCSA, it is also capable of analysing other data output from simulations using other codes. JETGET can select variables from the data files, render both two- and three-dimensional graphics and analyse and plot important physical quantities. Graphics can be saved in encapsulated Postscript, JPEG, VRML or saved into an MPEG for later visualization and/or presentations. An example of use of JETGET in analysing a 3-dimensional simulation of jets emanating from accretion disks surrounding a protostar is shown. The strength of JETGET in extracting the physics underlying such phenomena is demonstrated as well as its capabilities in visualizing the 3-dimensional features of the simulated magneto-hydrodynamic jets. The JETGET tool is written in Interactive Data Language (IDL) and uses a graphical user interface to manipulate the data. The tool was developed on a LINUX platform and can be run on any platform that supports IDL.

 





RoLo

RoLo (Roche Lobe) is a tool to calculate the radius and potential of the Roche Lobe. It does this for any specified direction, and also gives some other commonly used quantities (such as the Lagrange points). The calculator is valid for any mass ratio q between 0.01 and 100. The coordinates are spherical-polar (R, theta, phi) centered on one star (M1), with the x-axis (theta=pi/2, phi=0) pointing towards the other star (M2). The mass ratio is defined as q=M2/M1. Distances are given in units of the binary separation, a. A circular orbit is assumed. How does it work? Values of Lagrange points and potentials were separately calculated for about 150 different values of q, accurate to 8 digits, and stored in a Table. The calculator interpolates for intermediate values of q. To get the radius in an arbitrary direction, a root-finding algorithm finds the point which has a specific value of the potential for the desired theta and phi coordinates. The accuracy is 8 digits at a Tabulated value, but is at least 4 digits for intermediate values of q. For a physical system, one knows the actual values of the masses M1 and M2. Either one specifies the binary separation a, or calculates it from the orbital period P, using Kepler's law. The dimensionless radius is converted into physical units by multiplying by a. To run, please download the .zip file below and follow the instructions within.

 

Authors: Denis Leahy and Janet Leahy

 





SNRPy

SNRPy (Super Nova Remnant Python )is a freely available Python code for modelling supernova remnant (SNR) evolution. This software is intended for two purposes: to understand SNR evolution; and to use in modelling observations of SNR for obtaining good estimates of SNR properties. It includes all phases for the standard path of evolution for spherically symmetric SNRs. In addition, alternate evolutionary models are available, including evolution in a cloudy ISM, the fractional energy loss model, and evolution in a hot low-density ISM. The graphical interface takes in various parameters and produces outputs such as shock radius and velocity vs. time, SNR surface brightness profile and spectrum. To run, please download the .zip file below and follow the instructions within.

 

Authors: Denis Leahy, Jacqueline Williams, Bryson Lawton

 





Q & A

Answers to some of your Quark Nova related questions

Questions

Yes, quarks can exist outside a nucleus when one is considering a high pressure environment like a neutron star (or high temperature event like a nucleus-nucleus collision at high energy). This is because while nuclei do not like to get squeezed too close together (due to large repulsive forces at short distances), quarks actually do - the force between quarks decreases as you squeeze them together. Therefore, they begin acting like free particles, much like a gas, and can diffuse everywhere, growing the quark phase as they go. If something happens to trigger a phase change from nuclei to quarks deep inside a neutron star, there should be a rapid conversion of the entire neutron star to a quark star. Our studies of this conversion process suggest that this conversion can be explosive.
The Quark Nova has been used to successfully explain a multitude of astrophysical phenomena including Soft-gamma repeaters, Anomalous X-ray pulsars, Gamma-ray bursts, the abundance of heavy elements and super-luminous supernovae (SLSNe). Because there are other theories that can also explain some of these events, we can not claim that this is evidence of a Quark Nova, although it is strong support. One of the strongest pieces of evidence, was the prediction in 2009 of a double-hump in the light curve of some supernovae caused by the dual-shock QN scenario (something unexpected in other models). In 2013, observations of TWO SNe with double-humped light curves were reported (SN 2009ip and SN 2010mc) EXACTLY as predicted by the QN scenario 4 years prior. That seems like pretty good evidence of their existence. Future observations with high tech telescopes should provide very strong evidence for the existence of QNe in the form of more double-humped SN and SLSN, discovery of heavy elements in supernova remnants and QN-Ia signatures in Type Ia supernovae.

It is believed that whenever a "strangelet" of quark matter touches ordinary matter (us humans for example) it would convert it entirely to quark matter. This would imply that if deconfined quarks (freed quark matter) come to exist anywhere in the universe the consequence would be disastrous and the entire universe would become a universe of quarks. However, it is important to understand that a "nugget" of quark matter is positively charged which means that it would repel normal matter. Only inside a neutron star where the conversion is most likely to occur since neutrons are neutral and would naturally interact with the quark matter and become converted. This conversion is explosive in nature which should manifest itself as the Quark-Nova. "Strangeness is the cancer of a neutron star".

If, as we have said, pollution by quark nuggets would convert all of the neutron stars then one begs the question of whether neutron stars and quark stars can co-exist. However, there isn't enough of these quark nuggets roaming around to be captured by neutron stars and convert them. In other words, an unambiguous detection of an ordinary neutron star would not rule out the existence of quark stars.

Quarks were independently theorized in 1964 by Murray Gell-Mann (who named them) and Geoerge Zweig. Experiments at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) demonstrated for the first time that protons consisted of smaller particles (Up and Down quarks). Experiments at SLAC also indirectly confirmed the existence of the Strange quark. In 1974 Charm quarks were produced independently at SLAC and Brookhaven National Laboratory. In 1977 the Bottom quark was observed at Fermilab but it was not until 1995 that the long-sought Top quark was finally observed. So yes, all flavors of quarks have been observed int he lab.
If a star is large enough it can create new elements out of hydrogen. Once a star starts creating iron, though, this nuclear fusion stops. In order continue making heavier elements, we need an event in space that has lots of neutrons hanging around some lighter elements like iron. These elements eat up all the neutrons and create heavier and heavier isotopes. These heavier isotopes are very unstable and wouldn't last for more than a few milliseconds at most on Earth. These unstable nuclei eventually turn into the stable elements like gold or uranium which are part of the Earth today. The fascinating part is that, despite having a theory for their creation, physicists still haven't figured out exactly where and when this process occurs.
Good question, but answering it is not so straightforward. First of all, this question assumes that quark stars and neutron stars can co-exist (see separate question on that). If they can, then usually it is believed that a neutron star can convert to a quark star if the core becomes sufficiently dense. How can the core density of a neutron star change? A rapidly rotating neutron star will have a lower core density than a slowly rotating neutron star, because of the larger outward directed centrifugal force associated with more rapid rotation. Alternatively, a more massive neutron star (rotating at the same rate) will have a higher core density since the gravitational force is larger. Hence, converting a neutron star to a quark star can occur if the mass of the neutron star increases, or if a rapidly spinning neutron star slows it spin. The core density can not change very much due to slowing rotation, and only if the star rotates very fast, so this method can only work if the core density ``almost'' has the critical density. Hence, the quark star will be more dense, but it will also be a more massive or a more slowly spinning object than the neutron star from which it formed. As for compactness, then adding more mass to a neutron star may not change its size much, or it may even make it a little smaller. On the contrary, adding more mass to a quark star may make it bigger. It may, or may not, be that no matter how massive the quark star is, it will always be smaller than any neutron star. Unfortunately we can not be very exact, since the size and the change in size depends on physics that is not well constrained. Keep in mind that these objects will have a radius of about 10 km (give or take a couple of kilometers). It is very difficult to accurately determine if an object located thousands of light years away, has a radius of 10 or 12 km!
Yes, if the quark star gains enough mass, its self-gravity becomes too large for the pressure of the quark matter to support. Then it will collapse rapidly to turn into a black hole. The process is similar to what happens at the centre of a supernova remnant when the stellar core is too massive to turn into a neutron star or quark star, so insteads turns into a black hole.

The delay between the SN explosion and the QN explosion can give us vital clues about the density at which quarks become free from the nucleons. This density, where the transition from the hadronic matter (protons, neutrons, atoms as we know them) to the world of free quarks, is almost impossible to derive from first principles because of the extremely complex equations of quantum-chromo-dynamics (the theory that studies quark matter). The Quark-Nova sits at the interface between the two world and discovering one is essentially finding the door that will allow us to enter and understand the world of quarks. The discovery of a Quark-Nova (via the light it emits or nuclear elements it ejects) would imply the existence of quark stars which will become the laboratory for studying quark matter.

Get in Touch

Questions, comments or inquiries about the Quark Nova Project.

Contact Details

  • rouyed@ucalgary.ca
  • +1 (403) 210-8418
  • Quark Nova Project
    Department of Physics and Astronomy
    University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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