RUI: Building a Robust Software Infrastructure for Parameterizing and Measuring the Neutron Star Equation of State

该奖项支持相对论和相对论天体物理学的研究，并阐述了美国国家科学基金会“宇宙之窗”宏伟构想的优先领域。两年前，对中子星碰撞的历史性探测在科学界发出了物理和比喻的波。不久之后，LIGO和处女座的合作首次从引力波中直接测量了中子星的状态方程。随着地面干涉仪的继续运行和灵敏度的提高，将会有更多的双星中子星合并。这有望对状态方程提供更严格的约束。这一过程的一个关键组成部分将是开发用于建模和测量中子星状态方程的软件基础设施。凯尼恩学院LIGO小组将开发和整合全套状态方程模型，不仅可供合作使用，还可供依赖这些结果进行后续分析的更广泛的科学界使用。该奖项与LIGO研究的本科生密切相关，并支持一个无障碍的天文学研究计划，该计划可以招收和联系学生进入重要的LIGO研究。该奖项集中于四种类型的状态方程模型，将用于参数估计：1)分段多面体模型，2)绝热指数的光谱分解，3)内置尖锐的一阶相变的模型，以及4)具有核物理参数的模型。LIGO的算法库LalSuite中已经包含了多变模型和光谱分解模型。然而，它们仍然需要重要的发展来使它们更加健壮，这是培养年轻本科生进行更实质性研究的伟大项目。具有相变和核物理参数的模型还没有被纳入lalSuite，需要进行大量开发才能与合作的旗舰参数估计软件无缝合作。这两组项目虽然在所需开发方面有所不同，但都是解释中子星内部物理的必要补充。这些项目可能会导致中子星状态方程发生一级相变的确凿证据。这一裁决反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award supports research in relativity and relativistic astrophysics and it addresses the priority areas of NSF's "Windows on the Universe" Big Idea. Two years ago, the historic detection of colliding neutron stars sent physical and figurative waves through the scientific community. Shortly after, the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration made the first direct measurement of the neutron star equation of state from gravitational waves. Many more binary neutron star mergers will be seen as ground-based interferometers continue operating and increasing in sensitivity. This promises to provide even tighter constraints on the equation of state. A critical component of this process will be developing the software infrastructure for modeling and measuring the neutron star equation of state. The Kenyon College LIGO group will develop and incorporate a full suite of equation of state models available not only to the collaboration, but also available to the broader scientific community who rely on these results for followup analyses. This award intimately involves undergraduates in LIGO research and supports a no-barrier-to-entry astronomy research program that can recruit and bridge students into important LIGO research.This award focusses on four types of equation of state models that will be used for parameter estimation: 1) piecewise polytopic models, 2) spectral decompositions of the adiabatic index, 3) models with built-in sharp, first-order phase transitions, and 4) models with nuclear physics parameters. Polytropic and spectral decomposition models have already been incorporated into lalsuite, which is LIGO’s algorithm library. However, they still require important development to make them more robust, which are great projects for training young undergraduates for more substantial research. Models with phase transitions and nuclear physics parameters have not yet been incorporated into lalsuite and will require a lot of development to get working seamlessly with the collaboration’s flagship parameter estimation software. Both sets of projects, though varying in required development, are essential additions for interpreting the physics of neutron star interiors. These projects could potentially lead to conclusive evidence of a first-order phase transition in the neutron star equation of state.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.