The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints
Infinite nuclear matter is a suitable laboratory to learn about nuclear forces in many-body systems. In particular, modern theoretical predictions of neutron-rich matter are timely because of recent and planned experiments aimed at constraining the equation of state of isospin-asymmetric matter. For...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Symmetry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/15/2/450 |
| _version_ | 1797618066108973056 |
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| author | Francesca Sammarruca |
| author_facet | Francesca Sammarruca |
| author_sort | Francesca Sammarruca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infinite nuclear matter is a suitable laboratory to learn about nuclear forces in many-body systems. In particular, modern theoretical predictions of neutron-rich matter are timely because of recent and planned experiments aimed at constraining the equation of state of isospin-asymmetric matter. For these reasons, we have taken a broad look at the equation of state of neutron-rich matter and the closely related symmetry energy, which is the focal point of this article. Its density dependence is of paramount importance for a number of nuclear and astrophysical systems, ranging from neutron skins to the structure of neutron stars. We review and discuss ab initio predictions in relation to recent empirical constraints. We emphasize and demonstrate that free-space nucleon–nucleon data pose stringent constraints on the density dependence of the neutron matter equation of state, which essentially determines the slope of the symmetry energy at saturation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:04:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7b54e319f5fd4f67a659256c9ff12b45 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-8994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:04:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Symmetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-7b54e319f5fd4f67a659256c9ff12b452023-11-16T23:33:29ZengMDPI AGSymmetry2073-89942023-02-0115245010.3390/sym15020450The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical ConstraintsFrancesca Sammarruca0Physics Department, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-0903, USAInfinite nuclear matter is a suitable laboratory to learn about nuclear forces in many-body systems. In particular, modern theoretical predictions of neutron-rich matter are timely because of recent and planned experiments aimed at constraining the equation of state of isospin-asymmetric matter. For these reasons, we have taken a broad look at the equation of state of neutron-rich matter and the closely related symmetry energy, which is the focal point of this article. Its density dependence is of paramount importance for a number of nuclear and astrophysical systems, ranging from neutron skins to the structure of neutron stars. We review and discuss ab initio predictions in relation to recent empirical constraints. We emphasize and demonstrate that free-space nucleon–nucleon data pose stringent constraints on the density dependence of the neutron matter equation of state, which essentially determines the slope of the symmetry energy at saturation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/15/2/450neutron matterequation of statesymmetry energychiral effective field theoryneutron skin |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Sammarruca The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints Symmetry neutron matter equation of state symmetry energy chiral effective field theory neutron skin |
| title | The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints |
| title_full | The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints |
| title_fullStr | The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints |
| title_short | The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints |
| title_sort | symmetry energy current status of ab initio predictions vs empirical constraints |
| topic | neutron matter equation of state symmetry energy chiral effective field theory neutron skin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/15/2/450 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT francescasammarruca thesymmetryenergycurrentstatusofabinitiopredictionsvsempiricalconstraints AT francescasammarruca symmetryenergycurrentstatusofabinitiopredictionsvsempiricalconstraints |