Neutron Skins and Neutron Stars

Abstract

The neutron-skin thickness of heavy nuclei provides a fundamental link to the equation of state of neutron-rich matter, and hence to the properties of neutron stars. The Lead Radius Experiment ("PREX") at Jefferson Laboratory has recently provided the first model-independence evidence on the existence of a neutron-rich skin in 208Pb. In this contribution we examine how the increased accuracy in the determination of neutron skins expected from the commissioning of intense polarized electron beams may impact the physics of neutron stars.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to the Proceedings of the "Workshop to Explore Physics Opportunities with Intense, Polarized Electron Beams up to 300 MeV