Quark-hadron phase transition in a neutron star under strong magnetic fields

We study the effect of a strong magnetic field on the properties of neutron stars with a quark-hadron phase transition. It is shown that the magnetic field prevents the appearance of a quark phase, enhances the leptonic fraction, decreases the baryonic density extension of the mixed phase and stiffens the total equation of state, including both the stellar matter and the magnetic field contributions. Two parametrizations of a density-dependent static magnetic field, increasing, respectively, fast and slowly with the density and reaching 2-4 x 10(18) G in the centre of the star, are considered. The compact stars with strong magnetic fields have maximum mass configurations with larger masses and radii and smaller quark fractions. The parametrization of the magnetic field with density has a strong influence on the star properties.