Role of correlations on spin-polarized neutron matter

Abstract

Using the Hellmann--Feynman theorem we analyze the contribution of the different terms of the nucleon-nucleon interaction to the spin symmetry energy of neutron matter. The analysis is performed within the microscopic Brueckner--Hartree--Fock approach using the Argonne V18 realistic potential plus the Urbana IX three-body force. The main contribution to the spin-symmetry energy of neutron matter comes from the S=0 channel, acting only in the non-polarized neutron matter, in particular the ${}^1{S}_0$ and the ${}^1{D}_2$ partial waves. The importance of correlations in spin-polarized neutron matter is estimated by evaluating the kinetic energy difference between the correlated system and the underlying Fermi sea.

Comments: 7 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review C