Neutron star mass formula with nuclear saturation parameters for asymmetric nuclear matter

Low-mass neutron stars are directly associated with the nuclear saturation parameters because their central density is definitely low. We have already found a suitable combination of nuclear saturation parameters for expressing the neutron star mass and gravitational redshift, i.e., eta -(K0L2)1/3 with the incompressibility for symmetric nuclear matter, K0, and the density-dependent nuclear symmetry energy, L. In this study, we newly find another suitable combination given by eta tau -(-K tau L5)1/6 with the isospin dependence of incompressibility for asymmetric nuclear matter, K tau, and derive the empirical relations for the neutron star mass and gravitational redshift as a function of eta tau and the normalized central number density. With these empirical relations, one can evaluate the mass and gravitational redshift of the neutron star, whose central number density is less than threefold the saturation density, within similar to 10% accuracy, and the radius within a few percent accuracy. In addition, we discuss the neutron star mass and radius constraints from the terrestrial experiments, using the empirical relations, together with those from the astronomical observations. Furthermore, we find a tight correlation between eta tau and eta. With this correlation, we derive the constraint on K tau as -348 <= K tau <= -237 MeV, assuming that L = 60 +/- 20 and K0 = 240 +/- 20 MeV.

Automated summary

This study investigates the relationship between low-mass neutron stars and nuclear saturation parameters and finds suitable combinations to express their mass and gravitational redshift. It also discusses the constraints on the neutron star mass and radius from both terrestrial experiments and astronomical observations, and discovers a tight correlation between two parameters.