Density dependence of the symmetry energy in the post–PREX-CREX era

Reed, Brendan T.; Fattoyev, F. J.; Horowitz, C. J.; Piekarewicz, J.

doi:10.1103/physrevc.109.035803

Density dependence of the symmetry energy in the post–PREX-CREX era

Journal Article · Wed Mar 13 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Physical Review. C

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.109.035803· OSTI ID:2338306

^[1]; ^[2]; ^[3]; ^[4]

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (United States)
Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY (United States)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States); Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (United States)
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL (United States)

The recently published CREX results suggest a rather peculiar picture for the density dependence of the symmetry energy. Whereas PREX favors a large neutron skin thickness in ²⁰⁸Pb, thereby suggesting a stiff equation of state, CREX suggests instead a much softer equation of state. Here, this discrepancy has caused a large spur in the theoretical community, since no model has been able to simultaneously reproduce within 1σ the PREX and CREX results. Motivated by a novel correlation between a CREX observable and a combination of bulk symmetry energy parameters, we calibrate three new covariant energy density functionals that reproduce binding energies and charge radii of spherical nuclei—and also accommodate the constraints imposed by PREX and CREX. Given that these models suggest a stiff equation of state at high densities, predictions for neutron star properties are also discussed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; FG02-87ER40365; FG02-92ER40750; SC0008808

OSTI ID:: 2338306

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2426828
OSTI ID: 2474597
OSTI ID: 3018207

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--23-33717

Journal Information:: Physical Review. C, Journal Name: Physical Review. C Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 109; ISSN 2469-9985

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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