Feryal Ozel, University of Arizona
Monday, May 19, 2014 - 4:00pm to 5:00pm
PAA A-102
Neutron stars offer the unique possibility of probing the equation of state of cold, ultradense matter in a region of the QCD phase diagram that is otherwise inaccessible. Moreover, understanding the properties of the neutron star interior is important for predicting the the outcomes of supernova explosions, the observational appearance of short duration gamma-ray bursts, and the end stages of neutron star coalescence. I will show that the ultradense matter equation of state is best probed by measurements of neutron star radii and present the recent results. I will also discuss how the measurements of neutron star and black hole masses combined with the tightly constrained radii allows for the first astrophysical inference of the pressure of cold matter above nuclear saturation density. I will discuss the implications of this measurement for nuclear theory and astrophysics.