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arXiv · 2110.06957

Constraints on the maximum densities of neutron stars from postmerger gravitational waves with third-generation observations

Matteo Breschi·Sebastiano Bernuzzi·Daniel Godzieba·Albino Perego·David Radice
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Abstract

Using data from 289 numerical relativity simulations of merging binary neutron stars, we identify, for the first time, a robust quasi-universal relation connecting the postmerger peak gravitational-wave frequency and the value of the density at the center of the maximum mass nonrotating neutron star. This relation offers a new possibility for precision equation-of-state constraints with next-generation ground-based gravitational-wave interferometers. Mock Einstein Telescope observations of fiducial events indicate that Bayesian inferences can constrain the maximum density to ${\sim}15\%$ ($90\%$ confidence level) for a single signal at the minimum sensitivity threshold for a detection. If the postmerger signal is included in a full-spectrum (inspiral-merger-postmerger) analysis of such signal, the pressure-density function can be tightly constrained up to the maximum density, and the maximum neutron star mass can be measured with an accuracy better than $12\%$ ($90\%$ confidence level).

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Matteo Breschi, Sebastiano Bernuzzi, Daniel Godzieba, Albino Perego, David Radice. 2021-10-13. Constraints on the maximum densities of neutron stars from postmerger gravitational waves with third-generation observations. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.128.161102

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