Speaker
Description
Recent binary-neutron-star-merger (BNSM) literature assumes the leptonic content of neutron-star (NS) matter to be restricted to electron-flavored leptons, and, accordingly, neutrino processes are approached within a three-species prescription. However, at sufficiently high densities, the onset of muons/antimuons is expected, as de-occupation of electron/positron states with energies above the muon rest-mass becomes energetically favorable. Hence, a realistic description of NS matter requires the account of muonic degrees-of-freedom, and, consequently, of muonic weak reactions in the neutrino sector, leading to, at least, a five-species approach.
In this talk, we present recent results of BNSM simulations employing a moments scheme treatment for neutrinos, and compare the muonic case to the non-muonic one (literature standard). Some of the challenges of producing muonic interaction rates will be discussed. Although our findings suggest a mild impact in ejecta, disk, remnant properties (less than 20% for relevant quantities), it seems nevertheless important to include muons and muonic interactions for accurate quantitative predictions.