The Composition of Pulsar Planets (and Why Love is the Answer)

Pulsar planets were the first exoplanets to be discovered and represent a very unique slice of exoplanetary studies. These Earth to Jupiter-mass objects orbit neutron stars with very short orbital periods, as low as 2 hours, meaning they are subject to very strong tidal forces. As such, these objects have become an interesting study as a possible probe for very dense, stable planetary compositions. We propose that, through the solutions of the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff and Hydrostatic Equilibrium equations as well as the calculation of the second order tidal Love Number k2 and tidal deformability, we can put stringent limits on the composition of these objects. By constraining the composition of these planets, it is our hope that the origin of pulsar planets will become clear.