Nuclear matter compressibility from isoscalar giant monopole resonance

We examine the status of the nuclear matter compressibility ${\mathit{K}}_{\mathrm{nm}}$ obtained from experimental data of the strength distribution of the giant monopole resonance in nuclei and employing a least-squares fit to a semiempirical expansion of the nucleus compressibility ${\mathit{K}}_{\mathit{A}}$ in ${\mathit{A}}^{\mathrm{-}1/3}$. We present arguments indicating that all the coefficients of this expansion must be determined by a fit to the data. In our analysis we have used the entire data set, correcting for systematic energy differences between data sets measured in different laboratories, and applying the same criteria to all sets in extracting the uncertainties. Contrary to recent statements by Sharma and collaborators, we find that the present complete data set is not adequate to limit the range of ${\mathit{K}}_{\mathrm{nm}}$ to better than about a factor of 1.7 (200 to 350 MeV).