Description of light clusters in relativistic nuclear models

TL;DR

This paper models light clusters in nuclear matter using relativistic mean field theory, analyzing how cluster-meson couplings influence cluster dissolution and calculating cluster abundances at finite temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed relativistic framework for light clusters in nuclear matter, incorporating constraints from theory and experiment.

Findings

Deuterons and tritons dominate cluster abundances above 5 MeV.

Cluster fractions are relatively insensitive to the choice of relativistic mean field interaction.

Cluster-meson coupling constants significantly affect the dissolution density.

Abstract

Light clusters are included in the equation of state of nuclear matter within the relativistic mean field theory. The effect of the cluster-meson coupling constants on the dissolution density is discussed. Theoretical and experimental constraints are used to fix the cluster-meson couplings. The relative light cluster fractions are calculated for asymmetric matter in chemical equilibrium at finite temperature. It is found that above T = 5 MeV deuterons and tritons are the clusters in larger abundances. The results do not depend strongly on the relativistic mean field interaction chosen.