Experimental Nuclear Masses and the Ground State of Cold Dense Matter

TL;DR

This paper examines how recent experimental measurements of neutron-rich nuclear masses inform our understanding of the composition and equation of state of cold dense matter up to a density of approximately 10^{11} g/cm^3.

Contribution

It provides updated calculations of the composition and equation of state of cold dense matter based on new experimental nuclear mass data.

Findings

Determined the ground state composition up to 10^{11} g/cm^3.

Calculated the equation of state for cold dense matter in this density range.

Linked experimental nuclear data to astrophysical models of dense matter.

Abstract

We study the consequences of recent progress in the experimental determination of masses of neutron rich nuclei for our knowledge of the ground state of cold dense matter. The most recent experimental data determine the ground state of cold dense matter up to $ \rho \simeq 10^{11}~{\rm g~cm^{-3}} $. The composition and the equation of state of the ground state of matter, in this density interval, are calculated.