中子星内部结构

The inner structure of neutron stars

中子星是宇宙中一类极端致密的天体,其平均密度超过饱和核物质密度。对这类天体的研究,可以帮助人们了解极端条件下的物理性质,特别是深化关于引力和强力的认识。文章介绍了脉冲星和中子星的概念,并重点阐述了中子星内部结构的不同模型,以及如何通过最大质量和潮汐形变量等观测来检验这些模型。未来发现更多的双中子星并合或中子星黑洞并合事件,有望最终揭开中子星内部结构之谜。

Neutron stars are extremely compact objects with an average density higher than that o f the saturate nuclear matter. Exploring the nature o f such objects can help us to understand physics under extreme conditions, especially the gravitational and strong forces. This paper introduces the concepts o f pulsars and neutron stars, as well as various models o f the interior structure o f the latter. M ore importantly, we shall show how to test such models observationally by determining various properties related to the equation o f state, such us the maxim um mass and tidal deformability. Detecting further merger events o f binary neutron stars and/or neutron star-black hole binaries w ill certainly help to unveil the inner structure o f neutron stars.