# Constraining the properties of dense matter and neutron stars by combining nuclear physics and gravitational waves from GW170817

## TL;DR

This paper combines gravitational wave data from GW170817 with modern nuclear physics calculations to better understand the dense matter inside neutron stars, highlighting the compatibility and constraints of current models.

## Contribution

It demonstrates how gravitational wave observations can be integrated with nuclear theory to constrain neutron star matter properties, considering uncertainties.

## Key findings

- GW170817 tidal deformability is compatible with nuclear physics models
- Current gravitational wave data provides less constraining power than nuclear physics calculations
- Combining both approaches refines understanding of neutron star interior properties

## Abstract

Gravitational waves from neutron-star mergers are expected to provide stringent constraints on the structure of neutron stars. At the same time, recent advances in nuclear theory have enabled reliable calculations of the low density equation of state using effective field theory based Hamiltonians and advanced techniques to solve the quantum many-body problem. In this paper, we address how the first observation of gravitational waves from GW170817 can be combined with modern calculations of the equation of state to extract useful insights about the equation of state of matter encountered inside neutron stars. We analyze the impact of various uncertainties and we show that the tidal deformability extracted from GW170817 is compatible, while less constraining, than modern nuclear physics knowledge.