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    Sensitivity of the dense matter equation of state to nuclear matter incompressibility in asymmetric systems

    Raj K. Jagota1,*, Sunil Kumar1, Mukul Kumar1, Virender Thakur2, and Shashi K. Dhiman1,†

    • 1Department of Physics, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171005, India
    • 2Department of Physics, Govt. College Karsog Distt. Mandi, Himachal Pradesh 175011, India

    • *Contact author: raj.phy@gmail.com
    • †Contact author: shashi.dhiman@gmail.com

    Phys. Rev. C 114, 015803 – Published 6 July, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/4yg6-fy4m

    Abstract

    This study explores the sensitivity of the equation of state (EoS) of dense asymmetric nuclear matter on the nuclear matter incompressibility K and assesses the corresponding effects on the structural properties of neutron stars. To isolate the effect of K, we employ six relativistic mean-field parameter sets in which K is systematically varied over the range 200–300 MeV, while the slope of symmetry energy is constrained to a fixed value, ensuring that the observed variations arise primarily from incompressibility. The resulting parameter sets are calibrated to reproduce ground-state properties of finite nuclei and bulk properties of symmetric nuclear matter. The corresponding EoSs for β-stable matter are then employed to evaluate several neutron-star properties. We find that K affects the stiffness of the EoS at suprasaturation densities, primarily through modifications in higher-order density derivatives such as the skewness parameter Q0. Larger values of K lead to a stiffer EoS, resulting in systematically larger radii and tidal deformabilities, while the maximum mass shows comparatively weaker sensitivity. The radius R1.4 of a canonical 1.4M⊙ neutron star and its associated dimensionless tidal deformability Λ1.4 respond sensitively to changes in the incompressibility parameter. The neutron-star properties lie in the ranges Mmax≈2.01M⊙–2.18M⊙, R1.4≈12.88–13.30km, and Λ1.4≈550.01–695.62, consistent with observational constraints from NICER measurements and gravitational-wave events such as GW170817 and GW190814. The softer EoSs corresponding to lower K values show better agreement with recent bounds on tidal deformability. The present study demonstrates that nuclear incompressibility plays an important role in governing the high-density behavior of the EoS and the structural properties of neutron stars, providing a clearer connection between terrestrial nuclear matter constraints and astrophysical observations of compact stars.

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