Megahertz Gravitational Waves from Neutron Star Mergers
Abstract
Neutron star mergers provide a unique laboratory for the study of strong-field gravity coupled to quantum chromodynamics in extreme conditions. The frequencies and amplitudes of the resulting gravitational waves encode invaluable information about the merger. Simulations to date have shown that these frequencies lie in the kilohertz range. They have also shown that, if quantum chromodynamics possesses a first-order phase transition at high baryon density, then this is likely to be accessed during the merger dynamics. Here, we show that this would result in the nucleation of superheated and/or supercompressed bubbles whose subsequent dynamics would produce gravitational waves in the megahertz range. We estimate the amplitude of this signal and compare it to the sensitivity of planned future detectors.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
Magnetic confinement fusion research
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 136
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 101401–101401
- Publication date
- 10 February 2026
- Language
- EN