Direct URCA process in light of PREX-2

TL;DR

This paper investigates how recent PREX-2 data on nuclear symmetry energy influence the dense matter equation of state and the threshold density for the direct URCA process in neutron stars, revealing it can occur at lower masses.

Contribution

It introduces a new equation of state model constrained by PREX-2 data and explores its implications for the direct URCA process in neutron stars.

Findings

dURCA process can occur in neutron stars with masses as low as one solar mass

Updated symmetry energy data significantly affect neutron star cooling models

The study constrains the isovector-vector meson coupling parameters based on recent experimental data

Abstract

We study the implications of the recent development in nuclear symmetry energy constraints from PREX-2 data on dense matter equation of state and its impact on dURCA threshold density. In this work, we construct the equation of state within the framework of covariant density functional theory implementing coupling schemes of non-linear and density-dependent models and exploring the coupling parameter space of isovector-vector meson to baryons constrained by the isospin asymmetry parameter values deduced from recent PREX-2 data. The modified parameter sets are applied to evaluate the dense matter properties. We find that the updated data suggests the occurrence of dURCA process within neutron star even with mass as low as one solar mass.