Hadron-quark phase transition in neutron stars

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. We investigate the influence of the hadronic equation of state on the phase transition and neutron star properties. It is found that a neutron star possesses a large population of hyperons, but it is not dense enough to possess a pure quark core. Whether or not the mixed phase of hadronic and quark matter appears in the center of neutron stars depends on the RMF parameters used in the calculation.