Spinodal decomposition of low-density asymmetric nuclear matter

TL;DR

This paper studies how asymmetric nuclear matter at low density undergoes spinodal decomposition, revealing charge-dependent instabilities and their implications for nuclear fragmentation and the equation of state.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of charge symmetry effects on instabilities and fragmentation in low-density asymmetric nuclear matter, linking these to the nuclear Equation of State.

Findings

Charge asymmetry reduces instabilities, leading to larger fragments.

Configurations with less asymmetric fragments are favored.

Experimental variances from thermodynamical predictions are identified.

Abstract

We investigate the dynamical properties of asymmetric nuclear matter at low density. The occurrence of new instabilities, that lead the system to a dynamical fragment formation, is illustrated, discussing in particular the charge symmetry dependence of the structure of the most important unstable modes. We observe that instabilities are reduced by charge asymmetry, leading to larger size and time scales in the fragmentation process. Configurations with less asymmetric fragments surrounded by a more asymmetric gas are favoured. Interesting variances with respect to a pure thermodynamical prediction are revealed, that can be checked experimentally. All these features are deeply related to the structure of the symmetry term in the nuclear Equation of State (EOS) and could be used to extract information on the low density part of the EOS.