Peeking into a Neutron Star: Neutrons, Condensates, or Quarks?
Feryal Ozel (Univ of Arizona) - Mar 3, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Neutron stars are the densest objects in the universe and may contain
hyperon-dominated matter, condensed mesons, or even deconfined or
strange quark matter. Because of their low temperatures and high
chemical potentials, the physical conditions in their interiors differ
greatly from the dense conditions of the early universe or those
achieved at hadron colliders. This region of the QCD phase diagram can
best be probed through astrophysical observations that measure the
mass and radius of neutron stars and is a key focus of Beyond Einstein
science. I will discuss how we can break degeneracies between the
neutron star parameters by combining recent developments in our
understanding of neutron star atmospheres with observations of
distinct spectroscopic phenomena from the same neutron star source. I
will present a unique measurement of the mass and radius of the
neutron star in EXO 0748-676. The high inferred mass and large radius
of this neutron star rule out all the soft equations of state of
neutron star matter. I will conclude with our recent
radiation-hydrodynamical calculations of phenomena on accreting
neutron stars that further reduce measurement biases.
The seminar will be held in 544 Campbell Hall.
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