James Lattimer, Stony Book Univ.

Implications of Recent Neutron Star Mass and Radius Measurements

The recent determination of nearly 2 solar masses for PSR J1614-2230, with a one-sigma uncertainty of only 2%, has important ramifications for neutron star properties. An even larger mass has been estimated for the black widow pulsar, B1957+20, namely 2.4 solar masses. These set stringent limits to the central density of neutron stars and to the possible presence of quark matter in neutron star interiors. There also exist simultaneous mass and radius estimates for several neutron stars from Type I X-ray bursts and thermal emissions. Although individually these have rather large errors, as an ensemble they tightly constrain the mass-radius relation for neutron stars. In turn, this predicts a well-defined pressure-density relation, or equation of state, for high-density matter, a long- sought goal.

Host:  Ira Wasserman