Neutrino propagation in the nuclear pasta phase of neutron stars

P Grygorov (1) , P Gögelein (1) , H Müther (1)

1 Insitut für Theoretische Physik [Tübingen]

The mean free path of neutrino in charged and neutral current reactions is calculated for inhomogeneous nuclear matter which is expected to appear in the inner crust of neutron stars. The relevant cross section depends on Fermi and Gamow-Teller strength distributions, which are derived from the self-consistent Skyrme-Hartree-Fock and a relativistic mean-field calculations. The inhomogeneous nuclear matter, which appears at the boundary between the inner crust and outer core is described in terms of cubic Wigner-Seitz cells. It allows for a microscopic description of the structures in the so-called pasta phase of nuclear configurations and provides a smooth transition to the limit of homogeneous matter. The influence of the pasta phase, its microscopical structure and geometrical shapes on neutrino propagation are consid- ered.

Mots clés: Physical Sciences

P Grygorov, P Gögelein, H Müther. Neutrino propagation in the nuclear pasta phase of neutron stars. Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics, 2010, 37 (7), pp.75203. ⟨10.1088/0954-3899/37/7/075203⟩. ⟨hal-00600824⟩