Neutron Star Mergers and the Quark Matter Equation of State

Abstract

As neutron stars merge they can approach very high nuclear density. Here, we summarized recent results for the evolution and gravitational wave emission from binary-neutron star mergers using a a variety of nuclear equations of state with and without a crossover transition to quark matter. We discuss how the late time gravitational wave emission from binary neutron star mergers may possibly reveal the existence of a crossover transition to quark matter.