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Further explorations of Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov mass formulas XII: Stiffness and stability of neutron-star matter

par Goriely, Stéphane ;Chamel, Nicolas ;Pearson, Michael J.
Référence Physical review. C. Nuclear physics, 82, page (035804-035818)
Publication Publié, 2010-09-24

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

We construct three new Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) mass models, labeled HFB-19, HFB-20, and HFB-21, with unconventional Skyrme forces containing t4 and t5 terms, i.e., density-dependent generalizations of the usual t1 and t2 terms, respectively. The new forces underlying these models are fitted respectively to three different realistic equations of state of neutron matter for which the density dependence of the symmetry energy ranges from the very soft to the very stiff, reflecting thereby our present lack of complete knowledge of the high-density behavior of nuclear matter. All unphysical instabilities of nuclear matter, including the transition to a polarized state in neutron-star matter, are eliminated with the new forces. At the same time the new models fit essentially all the available mass data with rms deviations of 0.58 MeV and give the same high-quality fits to measured charge radii that we obtained in earlier models with conventional Skyrme forces. Being constrained by neutron matter, these new mass models, which all give similar extrapolations out to the neutron drip line, are highly appropriate for studies of the r process and the outer crust of neutron stars. Moreover, the underlying forces, labeled BSk19, BSk20 and BSk21, respectively, are well adapted to the study of the inner crust and core of neutron stars. The new family of Skyrme forces thus opens the way to a unified description of all regions of neutron stars. © 2010 The American Physical Society.