Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1110.4142

Connecting Neutron Star Observations to Three-Body Forces in Neutron Matter and to the Nuclear Symmetry Energy

A. W. Steiner·S. Gandolfi
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Using a phenomenological form of the equation of state of neutron matter near the saturation density which has been previously demonstrated to be a good characterization of quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we show that currently available neutron star mass and radius measurements provide a significant constraint on the equation of state of neutron matter. At higher densities we model the equation of state using polytropes and a quark matter model, and we show that our results do not change strongly upon variation of the lower boundary density where these polytropes begin. Neutron star observations offer an important constraint on a coefficient which is directly connected to the strength of the three-body force in neutron matter, and thus some theoretical models of the three-body may be ruled out by currently available astrophysical data. In addition, we obtain an estimate of the symmetry energy of nuclear matter and its slope that can be directly compared to the experiment and other theoretical calculations.

Explore related subjects

nucl-thastro-ph.HEhep-phnucl-ex

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

A. W. Steiner, S. Gandolfi. 2012-02-23. Connecting Neutron Star Observations to Three-Body Forces in Neutron Matter and to the Nuclear Symmetry Energy. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.108.081102

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Application of the Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov Theory to WIMP-Nucleus Interactions in 40Ar

WIMP scattering from 40Ar is investigated using a self-consistent Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approach. Nuclear form factors relevant to dark matter direct detection are calculated from the resulting one-body density matrix elements and compared with shell-model predictions. Good agreement is found for the spin-independent response, while significant differences are observed for the spin-orbit response due to variations in single-particle occupancies. The effects of particle-number projection are shown to be small for 40Ar. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of certain dark matter response channels to the underlying nuclear structure model and establish a framework for extending mean-field calculations to nuclei beyond the reach of large-scale shell-model studies.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2026

Breakdown of the Plane-Wave Trojan Horse Analysis of the $^{12}\mathrm{C}+{}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ Fusion Reaction: Critical Role of Coulomb Distortions

Recently, a new Trojan Horse Method (THM) measurement of carbon-carbon fusion was reported by Li \textit{et al.} [Phys. Lett. B (2026) 140675]. The purpose of the present work is to demonstrate the breakdown of the plane-wave approximation used in the analysis of these data and the critical role of Coulomb distortions in the initial and final states. The reaction mechanism underlying the THM analysis of the $^{12}\mathrm{C}+{}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ fusion reaction using the $^{16}\mathrm{O}+{}^{12}\mathrm{C}\to α_s+α+{}^{20}\mathrm{Ne}$ reaction is investigated. Particular attention is paid to the spectator momentum distribution and to the dependence of the THM reaction amplitude on the relative carbon-carbon energy $E$. It is demonstrated that agreement with the measured spectator momentum distribution does not by itself validate the plane-wave approximation. Although the experimental momentum distribution can be reproduced, inclusion of Coulomb distortions in both the initial and final channels leads to an energy dependence of the THM amplitude that is completely different from the plane-wave result. Consequently, the energy dependence of the $^{12}\mathrm{C}+{}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ fusion cross section extracted from the THM data can be strongly distorted by the plane-wave treatment. It is concluded that the astrophysical factor extracted in the plane-wave analysis cannot be regarded as reliable and may lead to misleading conclusions concerning the low-energy $^{12}\mathrm{C}+{}^{12}\mathrm{C}$ fusion reaction.

nucl-th↗