Symmetry energy in neutron star matter

TL;DR

This paper explores the structure and symmetry energy of neutron star matter across various densities, proton ratios, and temperatures, focusing on phase transitions and pasta shapes.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the phase behavior and symmetry energy variations in neutron star matter under different conditions.

Findings

Confirmation of homogeneous to non-homogeneous phase transitions.

Variation of symmetry energy with density and temperature.

Identification of pasta shapes in nuclear matter.

Abstract

We investigate the structure attained by neutron star matter with proton to neutron ratios ranging from x=0.1 to 0.5, densities in the range of 0.02 fm-3 to 0.085 fm-3, and temperatures T<4 MeV. In particular we study the pasta shapes and the phase changes previously observed in nuclear matter, as well as the behavior of the symmetry energy. We corroborate the existence of homogeneous to non-homogeneous phase transitions, and the different values of the symmetry energy at different densities and temperatures.