Quantum mechanics

Nuclear physics

Computer security

Equation of state

Speed of sound

RADIUS

Astrophysics

Computer science

Physics

Signature (topology)

Mathematics

Nucleon

Geometry

Strange matter

Neutron star

State of matter

Nuclear matter

Binary number

Stars

Arithmetic

Physical Review Letters

Analyses that connect observations of neutron stars with nuclear-matter properties can rely on equation-of-state insensitive relations. We show that the slope of the binary Love relations (between the tidal deformabilities of binary neutron stars) encodes the baryon density at which the speed of sound rapidly changes. Twin stars lead to relations that present a signature "hill," "drop," and "swoosh" due to the second (mass-radius) stable branch, requiring a new description of the binary Love relations. Together, these features can reveal new properties and phases of nuclear matter.

Finding Structure in the Speed of Sound of Supranuclear Matter from Binary Love Relations