Neutrino propagation and spin zero sound in hot neutron matter with Skyrme interactions

TL;DR

This paper investigates neutrino propagation in hot neutron matter using Skyrme interactions, revealing temperature effects on spin zero sound and the impact of magnetic instabilities on neutrino mean free paths.

Contribution

It provides microscopic calculations of neutrino mean free paths in hot neutron matter considering temperature effects and magnetic instabilities with various Skyrme forces.

Findings

Spin zero sound exists at zero temperature above nuclear density.

Temperature rapidly dampens spin zero sound due to Landau damping.

Magnetic instabilities significantly reduce neutrino mean free paths at higher densities.

Abstract

We present microscopic calculations of neutrino propagation in hot neutron matter above nuclear density within the framework of the Random Phase Approximation . Calculations are performed for non- degenerate neutrinos using various Skyrme effective interactions. We find that for densities just above nuclear density, spin zero sound is present at zero temperature for all Skyrme forces considered. However it disappears rapidly with increasing temperature due to a strong Landau damping. As a result the mean-free path is given, to a good approximation, by the mean field value. Because of the renormalization of the bare mass in the mean field, the medium is more transparent as compared to the free case. We find, in contrast, that at several times nuclear density, a new type of behavior sets in due to the vicinity of a magnetic instability. It produces a strong reduction of the mean free path. The corresponding transition density however occurs in a region where inputs from more realistic calculations are necessary for the construction of a reliable Skyrme type parametrization.