Constraining the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy with heavy-ion reactions and its astrophysical impact

Abstract

Recent analyses of several isospin effects in heavy-ion reactions have allowed us to constrain the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy at sub-saturation densities within a narrow range. Combined with constraints on the Equation of State (EOS) of symmetric nuclear matter obtained previously from analyzing the elliptic flow in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, the EOS of neutron-rich nuclear matter is thus partially constrained. Here we report effects of the partially constrained EOS of neutron-rich nuclear matter on the mass-radius correlation, moment of inertia, elliptical deformation and gravitational radiation of (rapidly) rotating neutron stars.

Comments: Contribution to the Proceedings of the 24th Winter Workshop on Nuclear Dynamics, South Padre Island, Texas, April 5-12, 2008