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Dark, deep, deconfining: Phase transitions in neutron stars as powerful probes of hidden sectors

Aryaman Bhutani1,*, Nirmal Raj1,†, and Zenia Zuraiq2,‡

  • *Contact author: aryamanb@iisc.ac.in
  • †Contact author: nraj@iisc.ac.in
  • ‡Contact author: zeniazuraiq@iisc.ac.in
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Phys. Rev. D 113, 103046 – Published 28 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/yblk-411t

Abstract

The interiors of neutron stars enjoy ideal conditions for the conversion of hadrons to a strange quark phase, theorized to be the stablest form of matter. Though numerous astrophysical means to prompt such a deconfinement phase transition have been suggested, they may be preempted by a large energy barrier for nucleation of quark matter droplets. We will show that interactions of hidden sectors of particles with nucleons may surmount the barrier if it exceeds deca-GeV energies, and spark a phase transition. The neutron star would then, depending on the equation of state of QCD matter, convert to a black hole and/or set off a gamma-ray burst (GRB). Using the observed existence of ancient neutron stars and estimates of the GRB rate, we then set some of the strictest (albeit conditional) limits on dark matter scatters, annihilations, and decays that are tens of orders stronger than those from terrestrial searches. For smaller energy barriers, lower limits on nucleon decay lifetimes of the order of 1064  yr may be obtained.

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Phys. Rev. D 113, 103046– Published 28 May, 2026
  • Received 24 July 2025
  • Accepted 10 April 2026
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