Recent progress on the determination of the symmetry Energy

Abstract

We summarize the current status on constraining the density dependence of the symmetry energy from terrestrial laboratory measurements and astrophysical observations. While the value $E_{sym}({\rho }_0)$ and density slope $L$ of the symmetry energy at saturation density ${\rho }_0$ can vary largely depending on the data or methods, all the existing constraints are essentially consistent with $E_{sym}({\rho }_0)=31\pm 2$ MeV and $L=50\pm 20$ MeV. The determination of the supra-saturation density behavior of the symmetry energy remains a big challenge.

Comments: 12 pages, 2 figures. Plenary talk at 14th National Conference on Nuclear Structure in China, Huzhou, Zhejiang, 12-16 April, 2012