Correlations imposed by the unitary limit between few-nucleon systems, nuclear matter, and neutron stars

A. Kievsky, M. Viviani, D. Logoteta, I. Bombaci, and L. Girlanda
Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 072701 – Published 16 August 2018

Abstract

The large values of the singlet and triplet two-nucleon scattering lengths locate the nuclear system close to the unitary limit. This particular position strongly constrains the low-energy observables in the three-nucleon system as depending on one parameter, the triton binding energy, and introduces correlations in the low-energy sector of light nuclei. Here we analyze the propagation of these correlations to infinite nuclear matter showing that its saturation properties, the equation of state of β-stable nuclear matter, and several properties of neutron stars, as their maximum mass, are well determined solely by a few number of low-energy quantities of the two- and three-nucleon systems. In this way we make a direct link between the universal behavior observed in the low-energy region of few-nucleon systems and fundamental properties of nuclear matter and neutron stars.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 14 May 2018
  • Revised 4 July 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.072701

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Nuclear PhysicsGeneral Physics

Authors & Affiliations

A. Kievsky1, M. Viviani1, D. Logoteta1, I. Bombaci1,2, and L. Girlanda3,4

  • 1Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Largo Pontecorvo 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
  • 3Department of Mathematics and Physics, University of Salento, I-73100 Lecce, Italy
  • 4Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Lecce, I-73100 Lecce, Italy

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 121, Iss. 7 — 17 August 2018

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×