Recent progress constraining the nuclear equation of state from astrophysics and heavy ion reactions

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in constraining the nuclear equation of state at high densities through astrophysical observations and heavy ion experiments, highlighting their agreement with theoretical predictions.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent experimental and observational constraints on the nuclear EoS, demonstrating consistency with many-body theoretical models.

Findings

Heavy ion experiments support a soft EoS at moderate densities.

Neutron star observations indicate a stiff EoS at high densities.

Constraints from experiments and astrophysics are in agreement with theoretical predictions.

Abstract

The quest for the nuclear equation of state (EoS) at high densities and/or extreme isospin is one of the longstanding problems of nuclear physics. Ab initio calculations for the nuclear many-body problem make predictions for the density and isospin dependence of the EoS far away from the saturation point of nuclear matter. On the other hand, in recent years substantial progress has been mode to constrain the EoS both, from the astrophysical side and from accelerator based experiments. Heavy ion experiments support a soft EoS at moderate densities while recent neutron star observations require a ``stiff'' high density behavior. Both constraints are discussed and shown to be in agreement with the predictions from many-body theory.