Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 2008.00042

The nuclear symmetry energy from neutron skins and pure neutron matter in a Bayesian framework

William G. Newton·Gabriel Crocombe
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

We present an inference of the nuclear symmetry energy magnitude $J$, the slope $L$ and the curvature $K_{\rm sym}$ by combining neutron skin data on Ca, Pb and Sn isotopes and our best theoretical information about pure neutron matter (PNM). A Bayesian framework is used to consistently incorporate prior knowledge of the PNM equation of state from chiral effective field theory calculations. Neutron skins are modeled in a Hartree-Fock approach using an extended Skyrme energy-density functional which allows for independent variation of $J$, $L$ and $K_{\rm sym}$ without affecting the symmetric nuclear matter equation of state. We discuss the choice of neutron skin data sets, and combining errors in quadrature we obtain 95\% credible values of $J=31.3\substack{+4.2 \\ -5.9}$ MeV, $L=40\substack{+34 \\ -26}$ MeV and $K_τ = L - 6K_{\rm sym}= -444\substack{+100 \\ -84}$ MeV using uninformative priors in $J$, $L$ and $K_{\rm sym}$, and $J=31.9\substack{+1.3 \\ -1.3}$ MeV, $L=37\substack{+9 \\ -8}$ MeV and $K_τ = -480\substack{+25 \\ -26}$ MeV using PNM priors. The correlations between symmetry energy parameters induced by neutron skin data is discussed and compared with the droplet model. Neutron skin data alone is shown to place limits on the symmetry energy parameters as stringent as those obtained from chiral effective field theory alone, and when combined the 95\% credible intervals are reduced by a factor of 4-5. Ahead of new measurements of lead and calcium neutron skins from parity-violating electron scattering experiments at Jefferson Lab and Mainz Superconducting Accelerator, we make predictions based on existing data on neutron skins of tin for the neutron skins of calcium and lead of 0.166$\pm$0.008 fm and $0.169 \pm 0.014$ fm respectively, using uninformative priors, and 0.167$\pm$0.008 fm and $0.172 \pm 0.015$ fm respectively, using PNM priors.

Explore related subjects

nucl-thastro-ph.HE

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

William G. Newton, Gabriel Crocombe. 2021-04-23. The nuclear symmetry energy from neutron skins and pure neutron matter in a Bayesian framework. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.103.064323

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

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Three-dimensional orbital-free density functional theory description of nuclear pasta in the inner crust of neutron stars

Background: In the bottom layer of the inner crust of neutron stars, various crystalline structures are expected to emerge that are collectively called ``nuclear pasta.'' It is desirable to know properties of nuclear pasta in a wide variety of conditions for astrophysical applications. However, three-dimensional fully-microscopic calculations require huge computational effort that makes it still challenging to carry out systematic calculations. Purpose: In this paper, we propose an efficient method to calculate various nuclear pasta configurations in a non-empirical manner, based on three-dimensional orbital-free density functional theory (OF-DFT). We demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach by applying it to densities across the inner crust of neutron stars. Methods: As a first application of OF-DFT for nuclear pasta, we employ the second-order extended Thomas-Fermi (ETF) expansion of Skyrme energy density functional (EDF) to construct an EDF that depends only on neutron and proton number densities. Based on the variational principle, we derive Euler-Lagrange equations to determine optimal neutron and proton density distributions and solve them self-consistently. In this work, we call this approach the self-consistent ETF (SC-ETF) method. Results: We perform three-dimensional SC-ETF calculations with various box sizes. We successfully obtain various pasta structures, depending on given average nucleon number densities, consistent with earlier studies. Moreover, we find other exotic structures, such as bending and/or connected rods, slabs with a hole, etc., underlining the advantage of the self-consistent formalism. Conclusions: We demonstrate that the SC-ETF method proposed in this study, which can be regarded as a realization of OF-DFT, is a promising tool that can efficiently describe complex pasta structures without empirical assumptions on geometric shapes.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2026

Microscopic analysis of M1 scissors mode in $^{254}$No

The low-energy $M1$ orbital scissors mode (SM) was recently observed by Oslo group in deformed nucleus $^{254}$No. This is the heaviest nucleus where SM was ever experimentally found. We propose the analysis of SM, together with the spin-flip $M1$ resonance, within fully self-consistent Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation (QRPA) with Skyrme forces SG2, SLy4 and SLy5. The impact of "tensor" $J^2$-term, introduced by perturbative (on the base of SG2) and consistent (SLy5) ways, is analyzed and shown to be noticeable but not decisive. The deformation-induced coupling of $M1$ and $E2$ states is inspected. The calculations reasonably describe Oslo's experimental data. The best agreement is obtained for SLy5. A fine structure of SM in $^{254}$No is predicted. A significant constructive interference of the dominant orbital and minor spin-flip contributions to $M1$ strength at SM energy region is found. What is remarkable, our analysis of distributions of the convective nuclear currents challenges the scissors-like flow usually assumed for SM.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2026

Systematic Study of Proton, Two-Proton, Alpha, and Cluster Radioactivity Half-Lives based on the Deformed Gamow-like Model and Tabular Prior-data Fitted Network ($\mathrm{TabPFN}$)

A hybrid framework combining the deformed Gamow-like model ($\mathrm{DGLM}$) with the Tabular Prior-data Fitted Network ($\mathrm{TabPFN}$) is developed to improve half-life predictions for two-proton emission, proton emission, $α$ decay, and cluster radioactivity. A total of 583 radioactive nuclei are investigated, including 17 two-proton emitters, 42 proton emitters, 498 $α$ emitters, and 26 cluster emitters. Among the four considered models, $\mathrm{DGLM}^{b}+\mathrm{TabPFN}$ achieves the best overall performance, with $σ_{\mathrm{RMS}}=0.423$, corresponding to an improvement of approximately $82.2\%$ over $\mathrm{DGLM}^{b}$. The model parameters are optimized for each decay mode using the least-squares method. After introducing $\mathrm{TabPFN}$, the prediction errors for proton emission and $α$ decay are reduced by approximately $80.6\%$ and $87.6\%$, respectively. For $α$ decay, the training, test, and overall RMSEs are 0.208, 0.305, and 0.240, indicating good generalization capability without evident overfitting. The model also reproduces the systematic evolution of $α$-decay half-lives and the shell-closure effect around $N=126$. These results demonstrate that combining $\mathrm{DGLM}$ with $\mathrm{TabPFN}$ significantly improves the accuracy and robustness of radioactive-decay half-life predictions while retaining the physical interpretability of the original model.

nucl-th↗