arXiv2026
The composition of the neutron star is one of the most fundamental and long-standing problems in nuclear- and astro-physics. The known properties of nuclear matter, together with the astronomical observations, impose the stringent and interconnected constraints on the theoretical descriptions. In this work, by using the most general quantum hadrodynamics model including $σ, ω, ρ$ and $a_0$ in addition to nucleons, and performing a Bayesian joint analysis of experimental nuclear matter data, the heavy-ion flow pressure, and astrophysical observations including the mass-radius inferences of PSR J0740+6620, PSR J0437$-$4715, PSR J0614$-$3329 and HESS J1731$-$347 and the tidal posterior of GW170817, we point out that the nuclear matter made of only hadrons can provide a unified description of nuclear matter properties and astrophysical observations.In addition, we find that the speed of sound in the GQHD develops a non-monotonic, peak-like structure which is absent in the Walecka-type models TM1, NL3 and FSU-$\delta6.7$. This soft-to-stiff transition, accompanied by a pronounced softening of the symmetry energy, results in small size intermediate mass neutron stars, $R_{1.4}\simeq (11.1-11.4)$~km, together with the maximum mass $(2.2-2.3)M_\odot$, and, to our knowledge, has not been found before in the Walecka-type relativistic mean-field models. What we find here indicate that the sequential measurement of neutron star mass and radius by the next generation facilities, especially that of the intermediate mass neutron stars, is crucial for distinguishing the pure nucleonic stars from the hybrid ones.