Probing Neutron Stars using Gravitational Waves

The detection of the binary neutron star merger GW170817 by Advanced LIGO and Virgo has allowed us to explore the nature of dense matter using gravitational waves. The gravitational waves radiated during the merger encode the masses, spins, and tidal deformability of the stars. Measuring these quantities allows us to probe the dense matter equation of state. The observation of GW17017 has provided unprecedented insight into the nuclear equation of state. However, despite the high signal-to-noise ratio of GW170817, challenges remain in accurately measuring the star's properties using gravitational waves. I will review what we have learned so far from GW170817 and discuss how future observations with Advanced LIGO/Virgo, or a third-generation detector like Cosmic Explorer, could improve our understanding of the nature of dense matter.