Emergence of microphysical viscosity in binary neutron star post-merger dynamics

Abstract

In nuclear matter in neutron stars the flavor content (e.g., proton fraction) is subject to weak interactions, establishing flavor (β-)equilibrium. During the merger of two neutron stars there can be deviations from this equilibrium. By incorporating Urca processes into general-relativistic hydrodynamics simulations, we study the resulting out-of-equilibrium dynamics during the collision. We provide the first direct evidence that microphysical transport effects at late times reach a hydrodynamic regime with a nonzero bulk viscosity, making neutron star collisions intrinsically viscous. Finally, we identify signatures of this process in the post-merger gravitational wave emission.

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