Strangeness Nuclear Physics – 2010

Hyperons in Neutron Stars

I review the issues related to the appearance of hyperons in neutron star matter, focusing in particular on the problem of the maximum mass supported by hyperonic equations of state. I discuss the general mechanism that leads to the formation of hyperons in the core of neutron stars and I review the main techniques and many-body methods used to construct an appropriate equation of state to describe the strongly interacting system of hadrons hosted in the core of neutron stars. I outline the consequences on the structure and internal composition of neutron stars and also discuss the possible signatures of the presence of hyperons in astrophysical dynamical systems like supernova explosions and binary neutron star mergers. Finally, I briefly report about the possible important role played by hyperons in the transport properties of neutron star matter and on the consequences of neutron star cooling and gravitational wave instabilities induced by the presence of hyperons.