Constraints on Superdensematter From X-Ray Binaries

Abstract

From the earliest measurements of the masses of binary pulsars, observations of neutron stars have placed interesting constraints on the properties of high-density matter. The last few years have seen a number of observational developments that could place strong new restrictions on the equilibrium state of cold matter at supranuclear densities. We review these astronomical constraints and their context, and speculate on future prospects.