Observability of sharp phase transitions in neutron stars

Abstract

With central densities as high as 5-10 times the nuclear saturation density, neutron stars exhibit extreme conditions that cannot be observed elsewhere. They are ideal astrophysical laboratories for probing the composition and properties of cold, ultra-dense matter. We shall discuss taking into account currently available data from observation, how to reveal possible sharp phase transitions in dense neutron star cores.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures; contribution to the AIP Proceedings of the Xiamen-CUSTIPEN Workshop on the EOS of Dense Neutron-Rich Matter in the Era of Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Jan. 3-7, 2019, Xiamen, China