Strange stars with realistic quark vector interaction and phenomenological density-dependent scalar potential

We derive an equation of state (EOS) for strange matter, starting from an interquark potential which (i) has asymptotic freedom built into it, (ii) shows confinement at zero density (rho(B)=0) and deconfinement at high rho(B), and (iii) gives a stable configuration for chargeless, beta-stable quark matter. This EOS is then used to calculate the structure of Strange Stars, and in particular their mass-radius relation. Our present results confirm and reinforce the recent claim [1,2] that the compact objects associated with the X-ray pulsar Her X-1, and with the X-ray burster 4U 1820-30 are strange stars. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.