Critical temperature for $\alpha$-particle condensation in asymmetric nuclear matter

TL;DR

This paper calculates the critical temperature for alpha-particle condensation in asymmetric nuclear matter by solving a four-body Schrödinger equation, extending BCS theory to quartets with proton-neutron imbalance.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized in-medium four-body Schrödinger equation to determine the critical temperature for alpha condensation in asymmetric nuclear matter.

Findings

Critical temperature depends on proton-neutron asymmetry.

Extended BCS-like criterion for quartet condensation.

Provides a theoretical framework for alpha-particle superfluidity.

Abstract

The critical temperature for $\alpha$-particle condensation in nuclear matter with Fermi surface imbalance between protons and neutrons is determined. The in-medium four-body Schr\"odinger equation, generalizing the Thouless criterion of the BCS transition, is applied using a Hartree-Fock wave function for the quartet projected onto zero total momentum in matter with different chemical potentials for protons and neutrons.