| Speaker: | James M. Lattimer (SUNY) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Neutron Stars and the Dense Matter Equation of State |
| Date (JST): | Thu, Jan 28, 2010, 15:30 - 16:30 |
| Place: | Lecture Hall |
| Abstract: |
Neutron stars provide a unique laboratory with which to study cold, dense matter. The quantities of primary interest are the maximum mass and the typical radius of a neutron star. It is demonstrated how these quantities are related to the relative stiffness of neutron-rich matter and the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. The possible measurements of these quantities through heavy-ion collisions and parity-violating electron scattering from neutron-rich nuclei are discussed. Several recent observations, including binary pulsar mass measurements and a newly revised distance for a nearby cooling neutron star, will be summarized. In addition, bservations of thermal emissions from other cooling neutron stars and thermonuclear explosions from accreting stars are shedding light on the pressure-density relation of dense matter. |
