Effects of color superconductivity on the structure and formation of compact stars

We show that if color superconducting quark matter forms in hybrid or quark stars it is possible to satisfy most of the recent observational boundaries on the masses and radii of compact stellar objects. An energy of the order of ${10}^{53}$ erg is released in the conversion from a (metastable) hadronic star into a (stable) hybrid or quark star in the presence of a color superconducting phase. If the conversion occurs immediately after the deleptonization of the protoneutron star, the released energy can help supernovae to explode. If the conversion is delayed the energy released can power a gamma-ray burst. A delay between the supernova and the subsequent gamma-ray burst is possible, in agreement with the delay proposed in the recent analysis of astrophysical data.