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The process of converting very light nuclei into heavier nuclei is also accompanied by the conversion of mass into large amounts of energy, a process called fusion. The principal source of energy in the sun is a net fusion reaction in which four hydrogen nuclei fuse and ultimately produce one helium nucleus and two positrons.
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Exploring the nuclear pasta phase in core-collapse supernova matter.

Helena Pais1, Jirina R Stone

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.

Physical Review Letters
|October 30, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Researchers explored the exotic "pasta" phases in core-collapse supernovae. They precisely mapped the conditions for these phases, revealing new shapes and transitions in supernova matter.

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Area of Science:

  • Astrophysics
  • Nuclear Physics
  • Computational Physics

Background:

  • Core-collapse supernovae are highly energetic cosmic events.
  • Supernova matter exists in diverse forms, including homogeneous and inhomogeneous (pasta) phases.
  • Understanding the transitions between these phases is crucial for astrophysical models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the critical density and temperature for the onset and dissolution of the pasta phase in supernova matter.
  • To identify density regions for various pasta formations.
  • To investigate the influence of different nuclear interactions on these transitions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a three-dimensional, finite temperature Skyrme-Hartree-Fock (3D-SHF)+BCS calculation.
  • Employed four distinct Skyrme interactions: SkM*, SLy4, NRAPR, and SQMC700.
  • Performed fully self-consistent calculations of matter transitions.

Main Results:

  • Determined the critical conditions for the appearance and disappearance of the pasta phase.
  • Mapped density regions corresponding to different pasta structures.
  • Identified one novel stable pasta shape.
  • Observed subtle variations in phase transitions with different Skyrme interactions.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides the first fully self-consistent calculation of pasta phase transitions in supernova matter.
  • Results offer new insights into the complex structure of matter under extreme astrophysical conditions.
  • Identified pasta shapes and transition densities are crucial for supernova simulations and understanding neutron star interiors.