Recent Developments in Neutron Star Thermal Evolution Theories and Observation

Abstract

Recent years have seen some significant progress in theoretical studies of physics of dense matter. Combined with the observational data now available from the successful launch of Chandra and XMM/Newton X-ray space missions as well as various lower-energy band observations, these developments now offer the hope for distinguishing various competing neutron star thermal evolution models. For instance, the latest theoretical and observational developments may already exclude both nucleon and kaon direct Urca cooling. In this way we can now have a realistic hope for determining various important properties, such as the composition, superfluidity, the equation of state and stellar radius. These developments should help us obtain deeper insight into the properties of dense matter.