Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Summer 2025
Abstract
Neutron stars have densities far beyond those of an atomic nucleus. Observing neutron stars from a distance is the main way that we can learn how matter behaves when packed this tightly. In addition to the light that some of them (mainly pulsars) emit toward us, we can observe neutron stars through the gravitational wave signals emitted when they merge with each other. Because the stretching of the neutron stars due to tidal forces hastens part of the coalescence process, the gravitational wave data helps us to constrain the neutron star equation of state, which describes how compressible neutron star material is. The current software used for this analysis cannot handle equations of state with multiple branches. This project alters the code to sample in component sample pressure space instead of in mass space, an important step for making it work with multiple branches.
Recommended Citation
Hopkins, Noah; Wade, Leslie; and Wade, Madeline, "Sampling in Pressure for Compatibility with Inferring Multi-Branch Neutron Star Equations of State from Gravitational Waves" (2025). Kenyon Summer Science Scholars Program. Paper 762.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/summerscienceprogram/762
Rights Statement
