PREDICTING NEUTRON STAR MAXIMUM MASS THROUGH RELATIVISTIC EQUATION OF STATE MODELLING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/tnamp.v22.552Keywords:
Neutron star, maximum mass, General relativity, Equation of state, Ultra-dense matte, Gravitational collapseAbstract
The maximum mass of neutron stars (NSs) marks a fundamental limit set by general relativity and the equation of state (EOS) of ultra-dense matter. This study systematically explores NS maximum masses using relativistic models across a range of EOS types, including nucleonic, hyperonic, and quark matter. By solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations with piecewise-polytropic EOS parameterizations, we identify collapse thresholds and their sensitivity to high-density physics. Observational constraints from NICER (PSR J0740+6620: 2.08±0.07 M⊙) and GW170817 tidal deformability are incorporated. Results show that the maximum mass (Mmax) strongly depends on EOS stiffness above nuclear saturation, with Mmax approaching or exceeding 3M⊙. Hybrid EOS with quark deconfinement predict distinct kinks in the mass-radius relation near Mmax. These findings offer theoretical limits for distinguishing NSs from black holes in gravitational and electromagnetic signals, and enable stringent.
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