A roadmap to strange star

What if normal baryonic matter is compressed so tightly that atomic nuclei come into close contact? This question has been asked since 1930s. The first answer was presented by Lev Landau whose speculation has been developed, and the concept of neutron star is then popularized. However, another answer is related to strange star, which becomes worthy of attention especially after the establishment of the standard model of particle physics in 1960s. The basic ideas of this study are introduced pedagogically. We must point out emphatically that flavor symmetry and strong coupling between quarks would be essential in seeking true answer to the question. The final answer is expected to appear in the era of multimessenger astronomy. It is emphasized too that, besides the differences of global properties (e.g., mass-radius relation, maximum mass, tidal deformability), the strong-bound surface of strange star (rather than the gravity-bound one for conventional neutron star) could play an important role in identifying a strange star by astronomical observations.

Automated summary

Since the 1930s, scientists have been exploring the scenario where normal baryonic matter is compressed so tightly that atomic nuclei come into close contact. Lev Landau introduced the concept of neutron stars, while the idea of strange stars gained attention after the standard model of particle physics was established in the 1960s. Research suggests that the strong-bound surface of strange stars may be crucial in identifying them through astronomical observations.