Probing neutron star structure via f-mode oscillations and damping in dynamical spacetime models

Understand

Gravitational wave and electromagnetic observations can provide new insights into the nature of matter at supra-nuclear densities inside neutron stars.

• Improvements in electromagnetic and gravitational wave sensing instruments continue to enhance the accuracy with which they can measure the masses, radii, and tidal deformability of neutron stars.
• These better measurements place tighter constraints on the equation of state of cold matter above nuclear density.
• In this article, we discuss a complementary approach to get insights into the structure of neutron stars by providing a model prediction for non-linear fundamental eigenmodes (f-modes) and their decay over time, which are thought to be induced by time-dependent tides in neutron star binaries.