# I Low mass limit of a neutron star

#### PeterDonis

Mentor
The minimum mass appears to be just below 1/10 of a solar mass, and to occur at a central density of $7 \times 10^{12} \text{g / cm}^3$.
Oops, I see I misread the text; the density I quoted is the density at which $\Gamma$ rises above 4/3 again. The central density at which the minimum mass occurs is $1.55 \times 10^{14} \text{g / cm}^3$

#### Chronos

Science Advisor
Gold Member
For enquiring minds, the current lightweight NS champion is reported here; https://arxiv.org/abs/1711.09804, Pulsar J1411+2551: A Low Mass New Double Neutron Star System. Whose companion weighs in at a scant .92 M ⊙. Must have taken quite the bang to produce a NS lighter than the smallest known white dwarf - reported here; https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.0488. A 1.05 M ⊙ Companion to PSR J2222-0137: The Coolest Known White Dwarf? Obviously we have work left to do on the EOS for degenerate stars. Things like this sometimes tempt me to reconsider how inflexible the laws of physics may actually be.

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