Influence of the symmetry energy on nuclear pasta in neutron star crusts

TL;DR

This paper explores how the symmetry energy influences nuclear pasta structures and the crust-core transition in neutron stars, using relativistic mean-field models to understand their properties and correlations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significant impact of the symmetry energy slope on the crust-core transition and pasta phase characteristics in neutron star crusts.

Findings

Symmetry energy slope affects crust-core transition density.

Correlation between symmetry energy slope and pasta phase properties.

Results align with other theoretical methods.

Abstract

We investigate the effects of the symmetry energy on nuclear pasta phases and the crust-core transition in neutron stars. We employ the relativistic mean-field approach and the coexisting phases method to study the properties of pasta phases presented in the inner crust of neutron stars. It is found that the slope of the nuclear symmetry energy at saturation density plays an important role in the crust-core transition and pasta phase properties. The correlation between the symmetry energy slope and the crust-core transition density obtained in this study is consistent with those obtained by other methods.