Interdependence of different symmetry energy elements

TL;DR

This paper derives universal relations between the nuclear symmetry energy and its density derivatives, revealing a structural connection that applies broadly across nuclear energy density functionals, aiding in constraining nuclear matter properties.

Contribution

It introduces universal relations between symmetry energy elements and their derivatives, applicable to various nuclear models, enhancing understanding of the isovector nuclear interaction.

Findings

Relations hold for quadratic momentum and power-law density dependence interactions.

Most nuclear energy density functionals follow the derived correlation structure.

Constraints on symmetry energy derivatives help understand nuclear matter properties.

Abstract

Relations between the nuclear symmetry energy coefficient and its density derivatives are derived. The relations hold for a class of interactions with quadratic momentum dependence and a power-law density dependence. The structural connection between the different symmetry energy elements as obtained seems to be followed by almost all reasonable nuclear energy density functionals, both relativistic and non-relativistic, suggesting a universality in the correlation structure. This, coupled with known values of some well-accepted constants related to nuclear matter, helps in constraining values of different density derivatives of the nuclear symmetry energy shedding light on the isovector part of the nuclear interaction.