Inferring the mass, radius and magnetic field of neutron stars

Thibault Lechien

SURA / NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

A pivotal issue in astrophysics and a primary objective for NASA missions like NICER, is the determination of the equation of state of neutron stars. The equation of state relates the mass and radius of a star, which is a macro-scale test of the strong and weak forces, emerging from particles interacting at a micro-scale. By observing the periodic light curves from rotating neutron stars, we aim to infer their mass, radius, and magnetic field parameters, which leads to constraints on possible equations of state. We explore this parameter space by employing massively parallel, distributed Markov Chain Monte Carlo parameter inference and efficient photon ray tracing in curved spacetime. Using NICER data of pulsar J0030+0451 as a case study, we discuss preliminary findings and upcoming steps in this investigation.

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.