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，并解决了NSF“宇宙之窗”大构想的优先领域。两年前，中子星碰撞的历史性探测给科学界带来了物理和象征意义上的震动。不久之后，LIGO-Virgo合作项目首次通过引力波直接测量中子星的状态方程。随着地面干涉仪的继续工作和灵敏度的提高，将会看到更多的双中子星合并。这有望为状态方程提供更严格的约束。这个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。凯尼恩学院的LIGO小组将开发并整合一整套状态方程模型，不仅适用于合作，也适用于依赖这些结果进行后续分析的更广泛的科学界。该奖项与参与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项目，该项目可以招募学生参与重要的LIGO研究。该奖项侧重于将用于参数估计的四种类型的状态方程模型：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模型，以及4)具有核物理参数的模型。多向性和光谱分解模型已经被整合到LIGO的算法库lalsuite中。然而，它们仍然需要重要的发展来使它们更加强大，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整合到lalsuite中，并且需要大量的开发才能与合作的旗舰参数估计软件无缝协作。这两组项目虽然在开发要求上有所不同，但都是解释中子星内部物理特性的必要补充。这些项目可能会导致中子星状态方程中一级相变的确凿证据。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.