Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

Nuclear symmetry energy and its role in the thermodynamic instabilities of nuclear matter using an ab initio statistical approach

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Seyyed Alireza Ghaemmaghami
Mehdi Ghazanfari Mojarrad

Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2024.455720.1195
Abstract
In this research, by using the Seyler-Blanchard (SB) interaction, we present the Thomas-Fermi statistical approach in the simplest possible form in order to study the thermodynamic properties of nuclear matter with special attention to symmetry energy and its role in the thermodynamic instabilities. Our results show that the symmetry energy and symmetry free energy for the SB interaction are stiffer than those for the Myers-Swiatecki (MS) interactions. It can be seen that the temperature plays a prominent role in eliminating the unstable regions of the phase diagrams so that the unstable region shrinks with increasing temperature until it disappears at the critical temperature. Furthermore, the thermodynamic instabilities of asymmetric nuclear matter (ANM) occur simultaneously in both the chemical and mechanical modes, while the mechanical instabilities play a dominant role, as can be observed more significantly in the SB interaction than in the MS interactions due to the stiffer behavior of the symmetry energy and the symmetry free energy. This work paves the way for in-depth research on the liquid-gas phase transition, considering that the other theoretical predictions are consistent with the results of this model.

Highlights

  • The effect of symmetry energy on thermodynamic instabilities of nuclear matter.
  • Comparison of Seyler-Blanchard and Myers-Swiatecki interactions in thermodynamic properties of nuclear matter.
  • Temperature plays a dominant role in eliminating the instability region.
  • The instabilities of asymmetric nuclear matter coincide in both the chemical and mechanical modes.
  • The mechanical instabilities play a dominant role in thermodynamic instabilities.

Keywords

Thomas-Fermi
Nuclear matter
Seyler-Blanchard interaction
Symmetry energy
Symmetry free energy
Thermodynamic instabilities
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Radiation Physics and Engineering
Volume 6, Issue 3
Spring 2025
Pages 9-16

  • Receive Date 05 May 2024
  • Revise Date 24 November 2024
  • Accept Date 21 December 2024

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