(No) neutron star maximum mass constraint from hypernuclei

Understand

(Abridged) The recent measurement of the mass of two $2\, M_\odot$ pulsars has raised the question whether such large masses allow for the existence of exotic degrees of freedom, such as hyperons, inside neutron stars.

• In the present work we will investigate how the existing hypernuclei properties may constrain the neutron star equation of state and confront the neutron star maximum masses obtained with equations of state calibrated to hypernuclei properties with the astrophysical $2\,M_\odot$ constraint.
• The study is performed using a relativistic mean field approach to describe both the hypernuclei and the neutron star equations of state.
• A set of five models consistent with $2\,M_\odot$ for a purely nucleonic composition are employed.