Relativistic equation of state at subnuclear densities in the Thomas-Fermi approximation

Journal Article · Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/788/2/185· OSTI ID:22356541

Zhang, Z. W.

We study the non-uniform nuclear matter using the self-consistent Thomas-Fermi approximation with a relativistic mean-field model. The non-uniform matter is assumed to be composed of a lattice of heavy nuclei surrounded by dripped nucleons. At each temperature T, proton fraction Y{sub p} , and baryon mass density ρ {sub B}, we determine the thermodynamically favored state by minimizing the free energy with respect to the radius of the Wigner-Seitz cell, while the nucleon distribution in the cell can be determined self-consistently in the Thomas-Fermi approximation. A detailed comparison is made between the present results and previous calculations in the Thomas-Fermi approximation with a parameterized nucleon distribution that has been adopted in the widely used Shen equation of state.

• OSTI ID: 22356541
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 788, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
APPROXIMATIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
FREE ENERGY
MASS
MEAN-FIELD THEORY
NUCLEAR MATTER
PROTONS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SUPERNOVAE
THOMAS-FERMI MODEL