Universal properties of maximum-mass neutron stars: a new tool to explore superdense matter

Abstract

I have demonstrated the existence of a tight correlation between the mass, radius, central density, and pressure of maximum-mass neutron stars modeled using diverse baryonic equations of state. A possible explanation for these correlations is provided. Simple analytic forms of such correlations are suggested and compared with observational constraints on the maximum mass of neutron stars and their radii. This gives a valuable tool to constrain maximum pressure and density that could be reached in stable neutron stars, assuming their equation of state is baryonic.