Astrophysics Experiments Research Articles

Possibilities of the Phase-Contrast X-Ray Method in a Laboratory Astrophysical Experiment on the Study of Plasma Instabilities

Possibilities of the Phase-Contrast X-Ray Method in a Laboratory Astrophysical Experiment on the Study of Plasma Instabilities

Li-rich and super Li-rich giants produced by element diffusion

Context.About 0.2−2% of giant stars are Li rich, that is to say their lithium abundance (A(Li)) is higher than 1.5 dex. Nearly 6% of these Li-rich giant stars are super Li rich, with an A(Li) exceeding 3.2 dex. Meanwhile, the formation mechanism of these Li-rich and super Li-rich giants is still under debate.Aims.Considering the compact He core of red giants, attention is paid to the effect of element diffusion on A(Li). In particular, when the He-core flash occurs, element diffusion makes the thermohaline mixing zone extend inward and connect to the inner convection region of stars. Then, a large amount of7Be produced by the He flash can be transferred to the stellar surface, finally turning into7Li. Thus, the goal of this work is to propose the mechanism of A(Li) enrichment and achieve consistency between the theoretical and observation data.Methods.Using the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) stellar evolution code, we simulated the evolution of low-mass stars, considering the effects of element diffusion on the Li abundances. The timescale ratio of Li-rich giants to normal giants was estimated using the population synthesis method. Then we obtained the theoretical value of A(Li) and made a comparison with observations.Results.Considering the influence of element diffusion in the model results in the increase of the lithium abundance up to about 1.8 dex, which can reveal Li-rich giants. Simultaneously, introducing high constant diffusive mixing coefficients (Dmix) with the values from 1011to 1015cm2s−1in the model allows the A(Li) to increase from 2.4 to 4.5 dex, which can explain most of the Li-rich and super Li-rich giant stars. The population synthesis method reveals that the amount of Li-rich giants is about 0.2−2% of all giants, which is consistent with observation estimated levels.Conclusions.In our models the element diffusion, mainly triggered by the gravity field, changes the mean molecular weight at the junction zone between the stellar envelope and the He core, which makes the thermohaline mixing region expand to the inner convection region of stars. A transport channel, efficiently transporting7Be in the hydrogen-burning region of the star to the convective envelope where7Be decays into7Li, is formed. Combining high constant diffusive mixing coefficients, the transport channel can explain the origin of Li-rich and super Li-rich giants, even the most super Li-rich giants.

Characterising the AGB bump and its potential to constrain mixing processes in stellar interiors

Context. In the 1990s, theoretical studies motivated the use of the asymptotic giant branch bump (AGBb) as a standard candle given the weak dependence between its luminosity and stellar metallicity. Because of the small size of observed asymptotic giant branch (AGB) samples, detecting the AGBb is not an easy task. However, this has now been made possible thanks to the wealth of data collected by the CoRoT, Kepler, and TESS space-borne missions. Aims. It is well-known that the AGB bump provides valuable information on the internal structure of low-mass stars, particularly on mixing processes such as core overshooting during the core He-burning phase. Here, we investigate the dependence of the AGBb position on stellar parameters such as the stellar mass and metallicity based on the calibration of stellar models to observations. Methods. In this context, we analysed ∼4000 evolved giants observed by Kepler and TESS, including red giant branch (RGB) stars and AGB stars, for which asteroseismic and spectrometric data are available. By using statistical mixture models, we detected the AGBb both in frequency at maximum oscillation power, νmax, and in effective temperature, Teff. Then, we used the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) stellar evolution code to model AGB stars and match the AGBb occurrence with observations. Results. From the observations, we were able to derive the AGBb location in 15 bins of mass and metallicity. We noted that the higher the mass, the later the AGBb occurs in the evolutionary track, which agrees with theoretical works. Moreover, we found a slight increase in the luminosity at the AGBb when the metallicity increases. By fitting those observations with stellar models, we noticed that low-mass stars (M ≤ 1.0 M⊙) require a small core overshooting region during the core He-burning phase. This core overshooting extent increases toward high mass; however, above M ≥ 1.5 M⊙, we found that the AGBb location cannot be reproduced with a realistic He-core overshooting alone. Thus, additional mixing processes have to be invoked instead. Conclusions. The observed dependence on metallicity complicates the application of the AGBb as a standard candle. Moreover, different mixing processes may occur according to stellar mass. At low mass (M ≤ 1.5 M⊙), the AGBb location can be used to constrain the He-core overshooting. At high mass (M ≥ 1.5 M⊙), an additional mixing induced, for instance, by rotation is needed to reproduce what is seen in observations.

Analyses of hydrogen-stripped core–collapse supernovae using MOSFiT and MESA-based tools

In this work, we employ two publicly available analysis tools to study four hydrogen(H)--stripped core--collapse supernovae (CCSNe) namely, SN 2009jf, iPTF13bvn, SN 2015ap, and SN 2016bau. We use the Modular Open-Source Fitter for Transients ({\tt MOSFiT}) to model the multi band light curves. {\tt MOSFiT} analyses show ejecta masses (log M$_{ej}$) of $0.80_{-0.13}^{+0.18}$ M$_{\odot}$, $0.15_{-0.09}^{+0.13}$ M$_{\odot}$, $0.19_{-0.03}^{+0.03}$ M$_{\odot}$, and $0.19_{+0.02}^{-0.01}$ M$_{\odot}$ for SN 2009jf, iPTF13vn, SN 2015ap, and SN 2016au, respectively. Later, Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics ({\tt MESA}), is used to construct models of stars from pre-main sequence upto core collapse which serve as the possible progenitors of these H-stripped CCSNe. Based on literature, we model a 12 M$_{\odot}$ ZAMS star as the possible progenitor for iPTF13vn, SN 2015ap, and SN 2016bau while a 20 M$_{\odot}$ ZAMS star is modeled as the possible progenitor for SN 2009jf. Glimpses of stellar engineering and the physical properties of models at various stages of their lifetime have been presented to demonstrate the usefulness of these analysis threads to understand the observed properties of several classes of transients in detail.

Evolution of Carbon-Oxygen White Dwarf Accreting Helium as One of the Progenitors of Accretion-induced Collapse

Carbon-oxygen white dwarf (CO WD) and helium star binary is one of the ways that can lead to accretion-induced collapse (AIC). The continuous accretion may increase the mass of the white dwarf until at a certain condition, carbon burning off-center might be initiated and alter CO into ONe WD. This paper is intended to analyze the long-term evolution of the CO WD accreting helium material. The stellar evolution code used in this research is MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics). MESA creates CO WD by evolving ZAMS star with an initial mass of 6 M⊙ to produce 0.9 M⊙ CO WD. The accretion rates are 4×10−6 and 4×10−7 M⊙/year which consist of mostly helium. It shows that for the high accretion rate, the helium burning on the surface of the WD is stable. It is predicted that it will continue to be stable for a very long time because of the high supply of matter. For the lower one, the burning experiences a fluctuation from the beginning of the accretion. For both cases, if carbon burning off-center has occurred, it may lead to the creation of ONe WD and eventually AIC.

An Analysis of the Eclipsing Binaries HD 71636, V1022 Cassiopeiae, and OT Andromedae

We have obtained high-dispersion spectroscopy and BV photometry of two F-type eclipsing binaries, HD 71636 and V1022 Cas, plus the A-type system OT And. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite measurements for each system have also been incorporated. The photometry of HD 71636 enables a more consistent picture of this 5.01331 days, circular-orbit system to emerge. The F2 V primary has a mass of 1.506 ± 0.002 M ☉ and a radius of 1.583 ± 0.024 R ☉. The mass of the F5 V secondary is 1.282 ± 0.002 M ☉, and its radius is 1.314 ± 0.030 R ☉. Comparison with evolutionary models of the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) series results in a good fit for a composition of [Fe/H] = 0.12 and an age of 0.9 Gyr. For the F6 V stars of V1022 Cas, our analysis produces a period of 12.15616 days and an eccentricity of 0.312. The two components have nearly equal masses of 1.626 ± 0.001 M ☉ and 1.607 ± 0.001 M ☉. The radii of the primary and secondary are 2.570 ± 0.021 R ☉ and 2.445 ± 0.022 R ☉, respectively. Comparison with the MESA evolutionary models results in [Fe/H] = 0.08 and an age of 1.87 Gyr. OT And consists of a pair of similar mid-A stars that have an orbital period of 20.85292 days and an eccentricity of 0.215. The primary has a mass of 2.253 ± 0.014 M ☉ and a radius of 3.167 ± 0.013 R ☉. The corresponding parameters for the secondary are 2.147 ± 0.011 M ☉ and 2.649 ± 0.015 R ☉, respectively. The MESA series models produce a best fit for this system with [Fe/H] = 0.10 and an age of 0.675 Gyr. The total apsidal motion in both eccentric systems is less than 1.°5 century−1.

Asteroseismology of a Double-mode High-amplitude δ Scuti Star TIC 448892817

We propose that TIC 448892817 is a double-mode high-amplitude δ Scuti star. The radial modes detected in this star provide a unique opportunity to exploit asteroseismic techniques up to their limits. 30 significant frequencies are detected by frequency analysis, while two of them are independent frequencies, i.e., F0 = 13.43538(2) day−1 and F1 = 17.27007(4) day−1. The ratio of f 1/f 2 is measured to be 0.777957(2), suggesting that this target is a double-mode δ Scuti star. Nearly all the light variation is due to these two modes and their combination frequencies, but several other frequencies of very low amplitude are also present. The stellar evolutionary models were constructed with different mass M and metallicity Z using Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA). The frequency ratio f 1/f 2 obtained by the model is smaller than those obtained by observation. This might be caused by the rotation of the star pointing that rotational effects are more important than previously thought in HADS stars. This is something that deserves to be investigated in future works with models including rotational effects for moderate to intermediate rotators such as FILOU. On the other hand, the parameters obtained from MESA agree well with previous results as well as by observational spectra. The best-fitting model shows that TIC 448892817 is close to entering the first turnoff of the main sequence. In order to accurately determine the effective temperature and metallicities, thus further narrowing the parameter space of this star, we suggest high-resolution spectra is highly desired in the future.

Tau neutrinos in the next decade: from GeV to EeV

Tau neutrinos are the least studied particle in the standard model. This whitepaper discusses the current and expected upcoming status of tau neutrino physics with attention to the broad experimental and theoretical landscape spanning long-baseline, beam-dump, collider, and astrophysical experiments. This whitepaper was prepared as a part of the NuTau2021 Workshop.

Towards a fully consistent Milky Way disk model

Context. The semi-analytic Just-Jahreiß (JJ) model of the Galactic disk is a flexible tool for stellar population synthesis with a fine age resolution of 25 Myr. The model has recently been calibrated in the solar neighbourhood against the Gaia DR2 stars. We have identified two star-formation bursts within the last ∼4 Gyr of the local star-formation rate (SFR) history. Aims. In this work we present a generalised version of the JJ model that incorporates our findings for the solar neighbourhood and is applicable to a wide range of galactocentric distances, 4 kpc ≲R ≲ 14 kpc. Methods. The JJ model includes the four flattened and two spheroidal components of the Milky Way, describing it as an axisymmetric system. The thin and thick disks, as well as atomic and molecular gas layers, are assumed to have exponential radial surface density profiles. Spherical stellar halo and dark matter in the form of a cored isothermal sphere are also added to the model. The overall thickness of the thin disk is assumed to be constant at all radii, though model realisations with a flaring disk can also be tested. The adopted radial variation in the thin-disk SFR reflects the inside-out disk growth scenario. Motivated by our findings for the solar neighbourhood, we allow a smooth power-law SFR continuum to be modified by an arbitrary number of Gaussian peaks. Additionally, the vertical kinematics of the stellar populations associated with these episodes of star-formation excess is allowed to differ from the kinematics prescribed by the age-velocity dispersion relation for the thin-disk populations of the same age. Results. We present a public code of the JJ model complemented by the three sets of isochrones generated by the stellar tracks and isochrones with the PAdova and TRieste Stellar Evolution Code (PARSEC), the Modules and Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) Isochrones and Stellar Tracks (MIST), and a Bag of Stellar Tracks and Isochrones (BaSTI). Assuming a plausible set of parameters, we take the first step towards calibrating the JJ model at non-solar radii. Using metallicity distributions of the red clump giants from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), we constrain the radial variation of the JJ-model age-metallicity relation and propose a new analytic form for the age-metallicity relation function. Conclusions. The generalised JJ model is a publicly available tool for studying different stellar populations across the Milky Way disk. With its fine age resolution and flexibility, it can be particularly useful for reconstructing the thin-disk SFR, as a variety of different SFR shapes can be constructed within its framework.

Cyclic changes in the interacting binary RX Cassiopeiae

We analyzed 109 years of published photometry and times of minima of the eclipsing interacting binary RX Cas. The inclusion of 171 previously unnoticed minima confirms the tendency of an increase in the orbital period at a rate of 1.84 s per cycle. We also find evidence of variations in the length of the previously reported long photometric cycle and changes in the shape of the orbital light curve. By modeling the orbital light curves at different epochs, and assuming symmetry in the system physical conditions during the first and second halves of the long cycle, we find that the changes in the orbital light curve can be explained by variations in the physical properties of the accretion disk. We find that epochs of maximum brightness are those of thicker and hotter disks. In addition, we explore the evolutionary history of the system using the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics code and find that the binary can be the result of nonconservative evolution of two stars of very similar initial mass (around 5.5M⊙) and orbital period of 4 days, although less massive and conservative models of longer starting orbital periods cannot be discarded.

Period change rates of Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids using mesa

ABSTRACT Pulsating stars, such as Cepheids and RR Lyrae, offer us a window to measure and study changes due to stellar evolution. In this work, we study the former by calculating a set of evolutionary tracks of stars with an initial mass of 4 to 7 M⊙, varying the initial rotation rate and metallicity, using the stellar evolution code modules for experiments in stellar astrophysics (mesa). Using Radial Stellar Pulsations (rsp), a recently added functionality of mesa, we obtained theoretical instability strip (IS) edges and linear periods for the radial fundamental mode. Period–age, period–age–temperature, period–luminosity, and period–luminosity–temperature relationships were derived for three rotation rates and metallicities, showing a dependence on crossing number, position in the IS, rotation, and metallicity. We calculated period change rates (PCRs) based on the linear periods from rsp. We compared our models with literature results using the geneva code, and found large differences, as expected due to the different implementations of rotation between codes. In addition, we compared our theoretical PCRs with those measured in our recent work for Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids. We found good overall agreement, even though our models do not reach the short-period regime exhibited by the empirical data. Implementations of physical processes not yet included in our models, such as pulsation-driven mass-loss, an improved treatment of convection that may lead to a better description of the IS edges, as well as consideration of a wider initial mass range, could all help improve the agreement with the observed PCRs.

Efficacy of inertial confinement fusion experiments in light ion fusion cross section measurement at nucleosynthesis relevant energies

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments create a unique laboratory environment in which thermonuclear fusion reactions occur within a plasma, with conditions comparable to stellar cores and the early universe. In contrast, accelerator-based measurements must compete with bound electron screening effects and beam stopping when measuring fusion cross sections at nucleosynthesis-relevant energies. Therefore, ICF experiments are a natural place to study nuclear reactions relevant to nuclear astrophysics. However, analysis of ICF-based measurements must address its own set of complicating factors. These include: the inherent range of reaction energies, spatial and temporal thermal temperature variation, and kinetic effects such as species separation. In this work we examine these phenomena and develop an analysis to quantify and, when possible, compensate for their effects on our inference. Error propagation in the analyses are studied using synthetic data combined with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) machine learning. The novel inference techniques will aid in the extraction of valuable and accurate data from ICF-based nuclear astrophysics experiments.

Radiochemical capabilities for astrophysics experiments at the national ignition facility

The Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has developed a suite of diagnostics and techniques that can be used for astrophysics experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Capabilities have been developed to add material to the outside of NIF hohlraum assemblies as well as to the interior of NIF target capsules or the fill gas. The ability to place very small amounts of material close to the NIF target enables activation with very large, short-pulse neutron fluxes. The Solid Radiochemistry Diagnostic can be used to collect solid debris from a NIF shot within 2 h of the execution of a shot, and this can be analyzed for radioactive signatures with or without post-shot chemical processing. The Radiochemical Analysis of Gaseous Samples diagnostic system can be used to collect gaseous products produced during a NIF shot. Capsule doping and radiochemical analysis capabilities at NIF will be discussed. The application of these techniques to astrophysical measurements will be discussed as well as some preliminary results.

New Class of Laboratory Astrophysics Experiments: Application to Radiative Accretion Processes around Neutron Stars

Extreme radiative phenomena, where the radiation energy density and flux strongly influence the medium, are common in the universe. Nevertheless, because of limited or nonexistent observational and experimental data, the validity of theoretical and numerical models for some of these radiation-dominated regimes remains to be assessed. Here, we present the theoretical framework of a new class of laboratory astrophysics experiments that can take advantage of existing high-power laser facilities to study supersonic radiation-dominated waves. Based on an extension of Lie symmetry theory we show that the stringent constraints imposed on the experiments by current scaling theories can in fact be relaxed, and that astrophysical phenomena can be studied in the laboratory even if the ratio of radiation energy density to thermal energy and systems’ microphysics are different. The validity of this approach holds until the hydrodynamic response of the studied system starts to play a role. These equivalence symmetries concepts are demonstrated using a combination of simulations for conditions relevant to Type I X-ray burst and of equivalent laboratory experiments. These results constitute the starting point of a new general approach expanding the catalog of astrophysical systems that can be studied in the laboratory.

The viability of the optically thick wind model in accreting white dwarfs at high accretion rates

ABSTRACT The single degenerate (SD) model is one of the leading models for the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). The optically thick wind (OTW) model is considered to be essential for the SD model. In this article, we aim to constrain the condition for the occurrence of the OTW. Using the stellar evolution code, Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics, we carried out a series of one-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations with different accretion rates and different white dwarf (WD) masses to simulate the dynamical ejection process on the accreting WDs. We find that, by neglecting interaction with the accreted material, we can get a similar result to the previous works using steady-state method, i.e. the OTW occurs. However, if we consider the interaction between the accreted and the outflowing materials, whether the OTW can occur or not becomes strongly dependent on the accretion rate. For a given WD mass, the higher the accretion rate, the less likely the OTW can occur. In addition, the WD masses can also affect the occurrence of the OTW, i.e. the higher the WD mass, the easier the OTW can occur. As a result, the OTW in novae may occur because the accretion rate is low enough, while in the SD progenitor system of SNe Ia, a high accretion rate is likely to prevent the occurrence of the OTW.

Formation of black widows through ultracompact X-ray binaries with He star companions

ABSTRACT Black widows (BWs) are a type of eclipsing millisecond pulsars (MSPs) with companion masses $M_2\lesssim 0.05\, \rm M_\odot$, which can be used to study the accretion history and the radiation of pulsars, as well as the origin of isolated MSPs. Recent observations indicate that there are two subtypes of BWs. One is the BWs with $M_2 \sim 0.01\!-\!0.05\, \rm M_\odot$, whereas another with $M_2 \lesssim 0.01\, \rm M_\odot$. However, the origin of the latter is still highly uncertain. In this paper, we investigated the formation of BWs with $M_2 \lesssim 0.01\, \rm M_\odot$ through ultracompact X-ray binaries (UCXBs) with He star companions, in which a neutron star (NS) accretes material from a He star through Roche lobe overflow. By considering different He star masses and evaporation efficiencies with the stellar evolution code Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (mesa ), we evolved a series of NS+He star systems that can undergo UCXB stage. This channel can explain the formation of the BWs with $M_2 \lesssim 0.01\, \rm M_\odot$ within the Hubble time, especially three widely studied BWs, i.e. PSRs J1719−1438, J2322−2650, and J1311−3430. We found that X-ray irradiation feedback does not affect the evolutionary tracks of evaporation process. The simulations indicate that the UCXBs with He star companions are the potential progenitors of isolated MSPs, and that the origin of BWs with $M_2 \lesssim 0.01\, \rm M_\odot$ is different with another subtype of BWs. In addition, this work suggests that the BWs with $M_2 \lesssim 0.01\, \rm M_\odot$ may not be produced by redback systems.

Synthesis of solid mercury targets for nuclear astrophysics experiments

This paper describes several simple and cost-effective ways of making homogeneously thin solid mercury targets useful for nuclear astrophysics experiments at standard ambient temperature and pressure and in vacuum. The methods described here make use of mercury compounds such as mercury(II) acetate, mercury(II) oxide (yellow), mercury(II) chloride, mercury (II) nitrate monohydrate, and mercury(II) sulfide (red). Various methods like drop-casting, wet chemistry, electro-chemical deposition, amalgamation, and pelletization are described. Advantages and disadvantages of each method are described.

Intense gamma-ray source based on focused electron beams from a laser wakefield accelerator

Laser wakefield accelerators generate ultrashort electron bunches with the capability to produce γ-rays. Here, we produce focused laser wakefield acceleration electron beams using three quadrupole magnets. Electron beams are then focused into a 3 mm lead converter to generate intense, focused bremsstrahlung γ beams. Experimental results demonstrate the generation and propagation of focused γ beams to a best focus spot size of 2.3 ± 0.1 × 2.7 ± 0.2 mm2 using a copper stack calorimeter. Monte Carlo simulations conducted using GEANT4 are in good agreement with experimental results and enable detailed examination of γ-ray generation. Simulations indicate that the focused γ beams contained 2.6 × 109 photons in the range of 100 keV to 33 MeV with an average energy of 6.4 MeV. A γ-ray intensity of 7 × 1010 W/cm2 was estimated from simulations. The generation of focused bremsstrahlung γ-ray sources can have important applications in medical imaging applications and laboratory astrophysics experiments.

Quasi-periodic eruptions from the helium envelope of hydrogen-deficient stars stripped by supermassive black holes

Quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs), a new kind of X-ray burst with a recurrence time of several hours, have been detected from supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in galactic nuclei. Recently, the two QPEs discovered by the eROSITA showed asymmetric light curves with a fast rise and a slow decline. Current models cannot explain the observational characteristics of QPEs. In this work, we show that QPEs can be generated from the Roche lobe overflows at each periapsis passage of an evolved star orbiting a SMBH. The properties of the companion stars are constrained via analytic estimations. We find that hydrogen-deficient post-AGB stars are promising candidates for exhibiting this phenomenon. We used the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) stellar evolution code to construct the hydrogen-deficient stars that can fulfill the requirements, as obtained through analytical estimates, to produce the properties of QPEs, including the fast-rise and slow-decay light curves, periods, energetics, and rates. Furthermore, the extreme mass ratio ∼105 between the SMBH and the donor leads to a phenomenon called extreme mass-ratio inspiral (EMRI), producing millihertz gravitational waves. These QPEs would be detected as EMRI sources with electromagnetic counterparts for space-based GW detectors, such as Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) and Tianqin. These instruments would provide a new way to measure the Hubble constant and further test the Hubble constant tension.

Can we decipher the composition of the core of a neutron star?

General relativity guarantees a unique one-to-one correspondence between static observables of neutron stars (NSs) accessible by multimessenger astronomy, such as mass-radius or tidal deformability, and the equation of state (EoS) of beta equilibrated matter. It is well known that these static properties are not enough to discern conventional NSs from hybrid stars. However, if one assumes that hadrons present in the neutron star core are only neutrons and protons, the lepton fraction is expected to be determined unequivocally by the condition of chemical equilibrium. Using a simple analytical method based on a polynomial expansion of the EoS, we show that multiple solutions are possible to the beta-equilibrium equation, leading to a characteristic indetermination on the composition of the interiors of NSs, even in the purely nucleonic hypothesis. We further show that additional empirical information on symmetric matter at high densities are not very efficient to pin down the composition, if uncertainties on measurements are accounted for. We conclude that constraints on the symmetry energy at high densities only, can make meaningful impact to decipher the composition of neutron star core. Our results give a lower limit to the uncertainty on the NS core composition that can be obtained with astrophysical and terrestrial experiments.