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Bayesian Inference of the Symmetry Energy of Superdense Neutron-rich Matter from Future Radius Measurements of Massive Neutron Stars

Journal Article · · The Astrophysical Journal (Online)
 [1];  [2]
  1. Yuncheng Univ., Yuncheng (China). Dept. of Physics; Texas A&M University-Commerce
  2. Texas A&M University-Commerce, TX (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
In this work, using as references the posterior probability distribution functions of the equation of state (EOS) parameters inferred from the radii of canonical neutron stars (NSs) reported by the LIGO/VIRGO and NICER Collaborations based on their observations of GW170817 and PSR J0030+0451, we investigate how future radius measurements of more massive NSs will improve our current knowledge about the EOS of superdense neutron-rich nuclear matter, especially its symmetry energy term. Within the Bayesian statistical approach using an explicitly isospin-dependent parametric EOS for the core of NSs, we infer the EOS parameters of superdense neutron-rich nuclear matter from three sets of imagined mass–radius correlation data representing typical predictions by various nuclear many-body theories, that is, the radius stays the same, decreases, or increases with increasing NS mass within ±15% between 1.4 and 2.0 M$$_\odot$$. The corresponding NS average density increases quickly or slowly or slightly decreases as the NS mass increases from 1.4 to 2.0 M$$_\odot$$. While the EOSs of symmetric nuclear matter (SNM) inferred from the three data sets are approximately the same, the corresponding symmetry energies above about twice the saturation density of nuclear matter are very different, indicating that the radii of massive NSs carry important information about the high-density behavior of nuclear symmetry energy with little influence from the remaining uncertainties of the SNM EOS at suprasaturation densities.
Research Organization:
Texas A & M Univ., Commerce, TX (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
CUSTIPEN (China-U.S. Theory Institute for Physics with Exotic Nuclei); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0009971; SC0013702
OSTI ID:
1801973
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1837900
OSTI ID: 23028414
Journal Information:
The Astrophysical Journal (Online), Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal (Online) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 899; ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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