Probing the Isospin-Dependence of Nuclear Equation of State with Heavy-Ion Reactions

Who:  Bao-An Li - (Texas A&M)
Where:  PRB 4138
When:  Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 01:30
Type:  Nuclear Seminar

Description: Probing the Isospin-Dependence of Nuclear Equation of State with Heavy-Ion Reactions

Bao-An Li (Texas A&M)

Heavy-ion reactions, especially those induced by radioactive beams, provide a unique opportunity to probe the Equation of State (EOS) of neutron-rich nuclear matter in terrestrial nuclear laboratories. The isospin-dependent part of the EOS, i.e., the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy, is still rather poorly known especially at supra-saturation densities. However, it is very important for many interesting phenomena in both astrophysics and nuclear physics. In this talk, I shall first discuss why the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy is currently very uncertain at supra-saturation densities and what fundamental physics we can learn from studying the symmetry energy. Some recent progress and main challenges of experimentally constraining the high-density symmetry energy will then be discussed. Finally, some astrophysical implications of the currently partially constrained nuclear symmetry energy will be presented.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

[1] Why is the nuclear symmetry energy so uncertain at supra-saturation densities?

Chang Xu and Bao-An Li, [arXiv:0910.4803].

[2] Super-soft symmetry energy encountering non-Newtonian gravity in neutron stars.

De-Hua Wen, Bao-An Li and Lie-Wen Chen, PRL (2009) in press, [arXiv:0908.1922].

[3] Circumstantial evidence for a soft nuclear symmetry energy at supra-saturation densities.

Z.G. Xiao et al., PRL 102, 062502 (2009), [arXiv:0808.0186].

[4] Recent Progress and New Challenges in Isospin Physics with Heavy-Ion Reactions.

Bao-An Li, Lie-Wen Chen and Che Ming Ko, Phys. Rep. 464, 113 (2008), [arXiv:0804.3580].