Dense baryonic matter: constraints from recent neutron star observations

Understand

Updated constraints from neutron star masses and radii impose stronger restrictions on the equation of state for baryonic matter at high densities and low temperatures.

• The existence of two-solar-mass neutron stars rules out many soft equations of state with prominent "exotic" compositions.
• The present work reviews the conditions required for the pressure as a function of baryon density in order to satisfy these new constraints.
• Several scenarios for sufficiently stiff equations of state are evaluated.