Relativistic effective interaction for nuclei, giant resonances, and neutron stars

F. J. Fattoyev, C. J. Horowitz, J. Piekarewicz, and G. Shen
Phys. Rev. C 82, 055803 – Published 11 November 2010

Abstract

Nuclear effective interactions are useful tools in astrophysical applications especially if one can guide the extrapolations to the extremes regions of isospin and density that are required to simulate dense, neutron-rich systems. Isospin extrapolations may be constrained in the laboratory by measuring the neutron skin thickness of a heavy nucleus, such as Pb208. Similarly, future observations of massive neutron stars will constrain the extrapolations to the high-density domain. In this contribution we introduce a new relativistic effective interaction that is simultaneously constrained by the properties of finite nuclei, their collective excitations, and neutron-star properties. By adjusting two of the empirical parameters of the theory, one can efficiently tune the neutron skin thickness of Pb208 and the maximum neutron-star mass. We illustrate this procedure in response to the recent interpretation of x-ray observations by Steiner, Lattimer, and Brown that suggests that the FSUGold effective interaction predicts neutron-star radii that are too large and a maximum stellar mass that is too small. The new effective interaction is fitted to a neutron skin thickness in Pb208 of only RnRp=0.16 fm and yields a moderately large maximum neutron-star mass of 1.94 M.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 18 August 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.82.055803

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

F. J. Fattoyev1,*, C. J. Horowitz2,†, J. Piekarewicz1,‡, and G. Shen2,§

  • 1Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, USA
  • 2Nuclear Theory Center and Department of Physics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA

  • *ff07@fsu.edu
  • horowit@indiana.edu
  • jpiekarewicz@fsu.edu
  • §gshen@indiana.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 82, Iss. 5 — November 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review C

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×