Electromagnetic Scattering in Degenerate and Partially Degenerate Nuclear Matter

TL;DR

This paper calculates electromagnetic scattering rates in dense nuclear matter, accounting for strong interactions and correlations, with implications for neutron star physics and merger phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed calculation of scattering rates in nuclear matter considering strong interaction correlations, advancing the understanding of transport in neutron star environments.

Findings

Longitudinal scattering rate increases drastically at subnuclear densities.

Correlations with strong interactions significantly affect scattering processes.

Results are relevant for modeling transport in neutron star outer cores.

Abstract

I calculate the rate of electromagnetic scattering in degenerate and partially degenerate plasmas composed of electrons, muons, protons, and neutrons. Correlations with strong interactions, induced by the polarizability of electromagnetically and strongly charged protons, are taken into account. At subnuclear densities induced interactions are shown to cause a drastic increase of the longitudinal scattering rate. The results obtained are particularly relevant for the electron contribution to transport in the outer core of neutron stars, and represent a first step towards a realistic calculation of transport phenomena in neutron star mergers.