We show that uncertainties in the strength of interactions of hyperons among themselves and with nucleons lead to an uncertainty in the maximum allowed neutron-star mass of nearly a factor of 2, even if the properties of nuclear and neutron matter were known with infinite precision around normal nuclear density and below. The possibility of a transition to quark matter places some constraint on the strength of the hyperonic interactions.

• Received 23 October 1989

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.64.13