Dense matter equation of state and phase transitions from a Generalized Skyrme model

TL;DR

This paper investigates various crystalline phases of dense nuclear matter using a generalized Skyrme model, identifying phase transitions and proposing a new low-density phase that enhances the model's descriptive power.

Contribution

It introduces a new energy-minimizing phase at densities below nuclear saturation, improving the modeling of strongly interacting matter in that regime.

Findings

Identification of multiple crystalline phases and phase transitions.

Proposal of a new low-density phase with good zero-density behavior.

Enhanced description of nuclear matter below saturation density.

Abstract

Skyrmion crystals are the field configurations which minimize the energy per baryon in the infinitely large topological charge sector of the Skyrme model, at least for sufficiently high density. They are, therefore, an important tool to describe the ground state of cold, symmetric nuclear matter at high density regimes. In this work, we analyze different crystalline phases and the existence of phase transitions between them within the generalized Skyrme model, with the ultimate goal of describing symmetric nuclear matter in a wide regime of densities. Furthermore, we propose a new energy-minimizing phase for densities lower than the nuclear saturation point ($n_0$) which also presents a good qualitative behavior in the zero density limit, thereby improving the description of strongly interacting matter in the region $n<n_0$.