5–9 Jul 2026
University of Canterbury
Pacific/Auckland timezone

Probing the Equation of State of Dense Matter in Neutron Stars

6 Jul 2026, 11:55
2m
Room E8 (Rātā / Engineering Core Building, University of Canterbury)

Room E8

Rātā / Engineering Core Building, University of Canterbury

63 Creyke Road, Ilam, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand

Speaker

Bao-Jun Cai (Fudan University)

Description

Understanding the equation of state (EOS) of dense matter inside neutron stars remains an important topic in modern nuclear physics and astrophysics. Recent multimessenger observations, especially gravitational-wave measurements from binary neutron-star mergers, together with X-ray timing and radio pulsar observations, have opened new opportunities for probing matter at supranuclear densities. In this talk, I will discuss recent progress in constraining the EOS of dense neutron-star matter through model-insensitive approaches based on relativistic stellar structure, including scaling properties associated with neutron-star mass, radius, and compactness. Particular attention will be given to the connection between astrophysical observables and the microscopic properties of dense matter in neutron-star cores, including the pressure, energy density, and sound-speed behavior at supranuclear densities. Possible implications for the maximum-mass configuration, the approach to the conformal limit, and the properties of matter in the innermost neutron-star core will also be briefly discussed.

Research Area Relativistic Astrophysics

Author

Bao-Jun Cai (Fudan University)

Co-authors

Dr Bao-An Li (East Texas University) Dr Yu-Gang Ma (Fudan University, East China Normal University) Dr Zhen Zhang (Sun Yat-Sen University)

Presentation materials