Neutron rich dense matter, neutron star mergers, and laboratory experiments

I review gravitational wave and E+M observations of the neutron star merger GW170817 and discuss what we are learning about dense neutron rich matter and the origin of the heavy elements. Equation of state (pressure versus density) constraints from these gravitational wave observations are compared to constraints from the Jefferson Laboratory PREX and CREX experiments. These experiments also probe neutron rich matter by measuring the neutron skins of the nuclei 208Pb and 48Ca.