A Modern View of the Equation of State in Nuclear and Neutron Star Matter

Background: We analyze several constraints on the nuclear equation of state (EOS) currently available from neutron star (NS) observations and laboratory experiments and study the existence of possible correlations among properties of nuclear matter at saturation density with NS observables. Methods: We use a set of different models that include several phenomenological EOSs based on Skyrme and relativistic mean field models as well as microscopic calculations based on different many-body approaches, i.e., the (Dirac-)Brueckner-Hartree-Fock theories, Quantum Monte Carlo techniques, and the variational method. Results: We find that almost all the models considered are compatible with the laboratory constraints of the nuclear matter properties as well as with the largest NS mass observed up to now, 2.14(+0.10)(-0.09) M-circle dot for the object PSR J0740+6620, and with the upper limit of the maximum mass of about 2.3-2.5 M-circle dot deduced from the analysis of the GW170817 NS merger event. Conclusion: Our study shows that whereas no correlation exists between the tidal deformability and the value of the nuclear symmetry energy at saturation for any value of the NS mass, very weak correlations seem to exist with the derivative of the nuclear symmetry energy and with the nuclear incompressibility.

Automated summary

The study shows that almost all models are consistent with laboratory constraints and observations regarding nuclear matter properties, and no correlation was found between tidal deformability and the value of nuclear symmetry energy. However, very weak correlations might exist with the derivative of nuclear symmetry energy and nuclear incompressibility.