Equation of State for Nucleonic and Hyperonic Neutron Stars with Mass and Radius Constraints

TL;DR

This paper develops a new equation of state for neutron star matter that satisfies recent mass and radius observations, including hyperonic effects and magnetic fields, to better understand neutron star properties.

Contribution

A novel parametrization of the FSU2 relativistic mean-field functional that aligns with recent astrophysical constraints and nuclear physics data.

Findings

Equation of state produces neutron stars with masses above 2 solar masses.

Predicted radii for canonical neutron stars are below 13 km.

Hyperonic and magnetic field effects allow for massive, compact neutron stars.

Abstract

We obtain a new equation of state for the nucleonic and hyperonic inner core of neutron stars that fulfills the 2$M_{\odot}$ observations as well as the recent determinations of stellar radii below 13 km. The nucleonic equation of state is obtained from a new parametrization of the FSU2 relativistic mean-field functional that satisfies these latest astrophysical constraints and, at the same time, reproduces the properties of nuclear matter and finite nuclei while fulfilling the restrictions on high-density matter deduced from heavy-ion collisions. On the one hand, the equation of state of neutron star matter is softened around saturation density, which increases the compactness of canonical neutron stars leading to stellar radii below 13 km. On the other hand, the equation of state is stiff enough at higher densities to fulfill the 2$M_{\odot}$ limit. By a slight modification of the parametrization, we also find that the constraints of 2$M_{\odot}$ neutron stars with radii around 13 km are satisfied when hyperons are considered. The inclusion of the high magnetic fields present in magnetars further stiffens the equation of state. Hyperonic magnetars with magnetic fields in the surface of $ \sim 10^{15}$ G and with values of $\sim 10^{18}$ G in the interior can reach maximum masses of 2$M_{\odot}$ with radii in the 12-13 km range.