Resolution of the Neutron Star Radius and Mass Anomalies via Geometric Vacuum Sintering

Current observations of Neutron Stars present a conflict between Gravitational Wave data (GW170817), which favors a compact “soft” Equation of State (R ≈ 11.5− 12.0 km), and X- ray Pulse Profiling (NICER), which reports systematically larger radii (R ≈ 13 km). We pro- pose that this “Radius Tension” is not a nuclear physics contradiction, but a geometric signature of the vacuum lattice transitioning from a coordination number of K = 12 (bulk) to K = 13 (surface). Unlike black holes, where the vacuum transition is gravitationally dampened, neu- tron stars are supported by degeneracy pressure, allowing the full topological expansion ratio (ξ = 13/12 ≈ 1.0833) to manifest. This zero-parameter model accurately predicts the observed radius of PSR J0030+0451 (12.0 km × 1.0833 ≈ 13.0 km) and the maximum mass saturation limit of PSR J0952-0607 (2.17M⊙ ×1.0833 ≈ 2.35M⊙), effectively resolving the tension without invoking exotic matter.