Model Equation of State for Strongly Interacting Superdense Matter

Abstract

The equation of state for a zero-temperature system of strongly interacting baryons is calclated. Interactions, described by the exchange of a pseudoscalar meson, are treated relativistically to lowest order in the coupling constant. The finite density of the ground state is included through a fully relativistic many-body theory discussed in a previous paper. The results, which are applicable to a single-component system of baryons for densities ${10}^{13}\frac{\mathrm{g}}{{\mathrm{cm}}^3}<\rho$, lead to an upper limit for the speed of sound $v_s\le \frac{c}{\sqrt{3}}$. Simple analytic expressions are given which fit the results of numerical computation in the density range ${10}^{13}\frac{\mathrm{g}}{{\mathrm{cm}}^3}\lesssim \rho \lesssim {10}^{23}\frac{\mathrm{g}}{{\mathrm{cm}}^3}$.