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Problematic systematics in neutron-star merger simulations

Problematic systematics in neutron-star merger simulations
Problematic systematics in neutron-star merger simulations
Next-generation gravitational-wave instruments are expected to constrain the equation of state of dense nuclear matter by observing binaries involving neutron stars. We highlight a problematic systematic error in finite-temperature merger simulations, where shock heating associated with the neutron-star surface gives rise to elevated temperatures. We demonstrate the severe implications of this artificial heating by computing static and dynamical tidal parameters for neutron stars immersed in simulation temperature profiles. The induced systematic errors must be addressed if we want to build robust gravitational-wave signal models for neutron-star, or indeed neutron star-black hole, binaries.

2470-0010
Gittins, Fabian
657ec875-fac3-4606-9dcd-591ef22fc9f6
Matur, Rahime
18dca720-1b33-4fe6-8e0c-f48c4f6560ea
Andersson, Nils
2dd6d1ee-cefd-478a-b1ac-e6feedafe304
Hawke, Ian
fc964672-c794-4260-a972-eaf818e7c9f4
Gittins, Fabian
657ec875-fac3-4606-9dcd-591ef22fc9f6
Matur, Rahime
18dca720-1b33-4fe6-8e0c-f48c4f6560ea
Andersson, Nils
2dd6d1ee-cefd-478a-b1ac-e6feedafe304
Hawke, Ian
fc964672-c794-4260-a972-eaf818e7c9f4

Gittins, Fabian, Matur, Rahime, Andersson, Nils and Hawke, Ian (2025) Problematic systematics in neutron-star merger simulations. Physical Review D, 111, [023049]. (doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.111.023049).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Next-generation gravitational-wave instruments are expected to constrain the equation of state of dense nuclear matter by observing binaries involving neutron stars. We highlight a problematic systematic error in finite-temperature merger simulations, where shock heating associated with the neutron-star surface gives rise to elevated temperatures. We demonstrate the severe implications of this artificial heating by computing static and dynamical tidal parameters for neutron stars immersed in simulation temperature profiles. The induced systematic errors must be addressed if we want to build robust gravitational-wave signal models for neutron-star, or indeed neutron star-black hole, binaries.

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Accepted/In Press date: 6 January 2025
Published date: 27 January 2025

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 508772
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/508772
ISSN: 2470-0010
PURE UUID: b9e90e98-6b62-44c3-b6f4-b55046f92c2e
ORCID for Fabian Gittins: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9439-7701
ORCID for Rahime Matur: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9488-3817
ORCID for Nils Andersson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8550-3843
ORCID for Ian Hawke: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4805-0309

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Date deposited: 03 Feb 2026 17:38
Last modified: 04 Feb 2026 03:06

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Contributors

Author: Fabian Gittins ORCID iD
Author: Rahime Matur ORCID iD
Author: Nils Andersson ORCID iD
Author: Ian Hawke ORCID iD

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