Constraints on physics of neutron stars from X-ray observations. (arXiv:1303.0317v1 [astro-ph.HE])

Constraints on physics of neutron stars from X-ray observations. (arXiv:1303.0317v1 [astro-ph.HE]):
I summarize some constraints on the physics of neutron stars arising from
X-ray observations of the surfaces of neutron stars, focusing on using models
of low-magnetic-field neutron star atmospheres to interpret their X-ray
spectra. I discuss observations of spectral lines, pulsation profiles, X-ray
bursts, radius measurements of transiently accreting neutron stars in
quiescence, crust and core cooling measurements of transiently accreting
neutron stars, and cooling of young neutron stars. These observations have
constrained the neutron star mass and radius (and thus the internal
composition, and dense matter equation of state), the superfluidity and
neutrino emissivity properties of the core, and the composition and superfluid
state of the crust.