We study the hadron-quark phase transition in the interior of neutron stars. The relativistic mean field (RMF) theory is adopted to describe the hadronic matter phase, while the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model is used for the quark matter phase. The influence of the hadronic equation of state on the phase transition and neutron star properties are investigated. We find that a neutron star possesses a large population of hyperons, but it is not dense enough to possess a pure quark core. Whether the mixed phase of hadronic and quark matter exist in the core of neutron stars depends on the RMF parameters used.

• Received 18 September 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.77.025801