Connecting GRBs from Binary Neutron Star Mergers to Nuclear Properties of Neutron Stars

Abstract

The fate of the binary neutron star (NS) merger remnants hinges sensitively upon the NS equation of state and the threshold mass, $M_{\mathrm{ls}}$, that separates a long-lived from a short-lived NS remnant. The nature of the electromagnetic counterparts is also influenced by the remnant type, particularly in determining whether a gamma-ray burst from a compact binary merger (cbGRB) is of short or long duration. We propose a novel approach to probe $M_{\mathrm{ls}}$ by linking it to the estimated observed ratio of long to short cbGRBs. We find that current observations broadly favour a relatively high value for this transition, $M_{\mathrm{ls}}\simeq 1.3M_{\mathrm{TOV}}$, for which $M_{\mathrm{TOV}}\lesssim 2.6M_{\odot }$, consistent with numerical simulations, as also shown here. Our results disfavour nuclear physics scenarios that would lead to catastrophic pressure loss at a few times nuclear density and temperatures of tens of MeV, leading to a rapid gravitational collapse of binaries with total mass $M\lesssim 1.3M_{\mathrm{TOV}}$. Future individual gravitational wave events with on-axis cbGRBs can further bound $M_{\mathrm{ls}}$.

Matches version accepted to PRD