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The Ultimate Energy Density of Observable Cold Matter

James M. Lattimer Madappa Prakash
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Abstract

We demonstrate that the largest measured mass of a neutron star establishes an upper bound to the energy density of observable cold matter. An equation of state-independent expression satisfied by both normal neutron stars and self-bound quark matter stars is derived for the largest energy density inside stars as a function their masses. The largest observed mass sets the lowest upper limit to the density. Implications from existing and future neutron star mass measurements are discussed.

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James M. Lattimer Madappa Prakash. 2004-11-10. The Ultimate Energy Density of Observable Cold Matter. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.94.111101

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