Analysis of the neutron matter equation of state and the symmetry energy up to fourth order of chiral effective field theory

TL;DR

This paper provides detailed predictions for neutron matter's equation of state and symmetry energy up to fourth order in chiral effective field theory, highlighting the mild impact of three-neutron forces and their relation to empirical data.

Contribution

It offers the first comprehensive order-by-order analysis of neutron matter and symmetry energy using advanced chiral nucleon-nucleon potentials.

Findings

Subleading three-neutron forces have a mild, attractive effect.

Order-by-order predictions align with empirical constraints.

Symmetry energy's density dependence is characterized.

Abstract

We present predictions for the neutron matter equation of state, from leading to fourth order of chiral effective field theory, using recently developed, accurate chiral nucleon-nucleon potentials. We find the impact of subleading three-neutron forces to be mild and attractive. We also show order-by-order predictions for the symmetry energy, and discuss its density dependence in relation to empirical constraints.