A New Bayesian Framework with Natural Priors to Constrain the Neutron Star Equation of State

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors:	Sun, Boyang, Zhao, Tianqi, Lattimer, James M.
Format:	Preprint
Published:	2026
Subjects:	High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Solar and Stellar Astrophysics Nuclear Theory
Online Access:	Acceder al recurso
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_version_	1866912809539862528
author	Sun, Boyang Zhao, Tianqi Lattimer, James M.
author_facet	Sun, Boyang Zhao, Tianqi Lattimer, James M.
contents	We propose a new Bayesian framework to infer the neutron star equation of state (EOS) from mass and radius observations and neutron matter theory by defining priors that directly parameterize mass-radius space instead of pressure-energy density space. We use direct and accurate inversion approximations to map mass-radius relations to the underlying EOS. We systematically compare its EOS inferences with those inferred from traditional EOS parameterizations, taking care to quantify the systematic prior uncertainties of both. Our results show that prior uncertainties should be included in all Bayesian approaches. The more natural alternative framework provides broader coverage of the physically allowed mass-radius space, especially small radius configurations, and yields enhanced computational efficiency and substantially reduced dependence on prior choices. Our results demonstrate that direct parameterization in observed space offers a robust and efficient alternative to traditional methods.
format	Preprint
id	arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_04294
institution	arXiv
publishDate	2026
record_format	arxiv
spellingShingle	A New Bayesian Framework with Natural Priors to Constrain the Neutron Star Equation of State Sun, Boyang Zhao, Tianqi Lattimer, James M. High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Solar and Stellar Astrophysics Nuclear Theory We propose a new Bayesian framework to infer the neutron star equation of state (EOS) from mass and radius observations and neutron matter theory by defining priors that directly parameterize mass-radius space instead of pressure-energy density space. We use direct and accurate inversion approximations to map mass-radius relations to the underlying EOS. We systematically compare its EOS inferences with those inferred from traditional EOS parameterizations, taking care to quantify the systematic prior uncertainties of both. Our results show that prior uncertainties should be included in all Bayesian approaches. The more natural alternative framework provides broader coverage of the physically allowed mass-radius space, especially small radius configurations, and yields enhanced computational efficiency and substantially reduced dependence on prior choices. Our results demonstrate that direct parameterization in observed space offers a robust and efficient alternative to traditional methods.
title	A New Bayesian Framework with Natural Priors to Constrain the Neutron Star Equation of State
topic	High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Solar and Stellar Astrophysics Nuclear Theory
url	https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.04294