Determining the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy using heavy-ion reactions

Abstract

We review recent progress in the determination of the subsaturation density behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy from heavy-ion collisions as well as the theoretical progress in probing the high density behavior of the symmetry energy in heavy-ion reactions induced by high energy radioactive beams. We further discuss the implications of these results for the nuclear effective interactions and the neutron skin thickness of heavy nuclei.

Comments: 12 pages, 5 figures. Talk given at the International workshop on nuclear dynamics in heavy-ion reactions and neutron stars, July, 10-14, Beijing, China