The Nuclear Physics of Neutron Stars

Abstract

We explore the unique and fascinating structure of neutron stars. Although neutron stars are of interest in many areas of Physics, our aim is to provide an intellectual bridge between Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics. We argue against the naive perception of a neutron star as a uniform assembly of neutrons packed to enormous densities. Rather, by focusing on the many exotic phases that are speculated to exist in a neutron star, we show how the reality is different and far more interesting.Comment: 8 pages and 4 figures. Excerpts from a lecture presented at the Seventh European Summer School on Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics; Catania, IT (September, 2013