Absolute stability window and upper bound on the magnetic field strength in a strongly magnetized strange quark star

Abstract

Magnetized strange quark stars, composed of strange quark matter (SQM) and self-bound by strong interactions, can be formed if the energy per baryon of magnetized SQM is less than that of the most stable 56Fe nucleus under the zero external pressure and temperature. Utilizing the MIT bag model description of magnetized SQM under charge neutrality and beta equilibrium conditions, the corresponding absolute stability window in the parameter space of the theory is determined. It is shown that there exists the maximum magnetic field strength allowed by the condition of absolute stability of magnetized SQM. The value of this field, H ~ 3 × 1018 G , represents the upper bound on the magnetic field strength which can be reached in a strongly magnetized strange quark star.