Neutron stars, fast pulsars, supernovae and the equation of state of dense matter
We discuss the prospects for obtaining constraints on the equation of state from astrophysical sources. Neutron star masses although few are known at present, provide a very direct constraint in as much as the connection to the equation of state involves only the assumption that Einstein's general theory of relativity is correct at the macroscopic scale. If the millisecond pulses briefly observed in the remnant of SN1987A can be attributed to uniform rotation of a pulsar, then a very severe constraint is placed on the equation of state. The theory again is very secure. The precise nature of the constraint is not yet understood, but it appears that the equation of state must be neither too soft nor stiff, and it may be that there is information not only on the stiffness of the equation of state but on its shape. Supernovae simulations involve such a plethora of physical processes including those involved in the evolution of the precollapse configuration, not all of them known or understood, that they provide no constraint at the present time. Not even the broad category of mechanism for the explosion is agreed upon (prompt shock, delayed shock, or nuclear explosion). In connection with very fast pulsars, we include some speculations on pure quark matter stars, and on possible scenarios for understanding the disappearance of the fast pulsar in SN1987A. 47 refs., 16 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5810766
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-27293; CONF-8905143-6; ON: DE89015348
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: NATO international advanced courses on the nuclear equation of state, Peniscola, Spain, 12 May - 3 Jun 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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GENERAL PHYSICS
NEUTRON STARS
EQUATIONS OF STATE
PULSARS
SUPERNOVAE
BLACK HOLES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
GRAVITATIONAL COLLAPSE
KAONS
NUCLEAR MATTER
PIONS
QUARKS
BOSONS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
FERMIONS
FIELD THEORIES
HADRONS
MATTER
MESONS
POSTULATED PARTICLES
PSEUDOSCALAR MESONS
STARS
STRANGE MESONS
STRANGE PARTICLES
VARIABLE STARS
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources