arXiv subjects

C. Providência

Publications and source records attributed to C. Providência.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Investigating the Impact of Higher-Order Phase Transitions in Binary Neutron-Star Mergers

In this paper we investigate quark deconfinement in neutrons stars and their mergers, focusing on the effects of higher orders for the phase transition between hadronic and quark matter. The different descriptions we use to describe matter microscopically contain varying particle degrees of freedom, including nucleons, hyperons, Delta baryons, and light and strange quarks. We use tabulated equations of state from the CompOSE database in which the quark deconfinement phase transition is described as being first-order, and then smooth it out by introducing a percolation, replacing the single first-order phase transition with two transitions of second or third order. We then perform binary neutron-star merger simulations using these new equations of st ate, focusing on groups of binaries with the same single-star mass, radius, and tidal deformability, but different equations of state. We go on to discuss differences in their evolution, and the ramifications for interpreting future gravitational wave observations and the potential to learn about dense matter.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Relativistic hypernuclear compact stars with calibrated equations of state

Within the covariant density functional theory of hypernuclear matter we build a series of equations of state for hypernuclear compact stars, by calibrating the coupling constants of the $Ξ$-hyperon to the experimental binding energy of the single-$Ξ$ hypernuclei $^{15}_{Ξ^-}$C and $^{12}_{Ξ^-}$Be. Coupling constants of the $Λ$-hyperon to nucleons have been calibrated on a vast collection of experimental data on single $Λ$-hypernuclei and we employ those values. Uncertainties on the couplings of the $Σ$-hyperon to nuclear matter, due to lack of experimental data, are accounted for by allowing for a wide variation of the well depth of $Σ$ at rest in symmetric saturated nuclear matter. To account for uncertainties in the nucleonic sector at densities much larger than the saturation density, a rich collection of parametrizations is employed, some of them in agreement with existing constraints from nuclear physics and astrophysics. Neutron star properties are investigated with all these calibrated equations of state. The effects of the presence of hyperons on the radius, on the tidal deformability, on the moment of inertia, and on the nucleonic direct Urca process are discussed. The sensitivity of the hyperonic direct Urca processes to uncertainties in the nucleonic and hyperonic sectors is also addressed. It is shown that the relative variations of the radius, tidal deformability and moment of inertia from the values that characterize purely nucleonic stars are linearly correlated with the strangeness fraction. The maximum radius deviation, obtained for most massive neutron stars, is $\approx 10\%$. The reduction of the maximum mass, triggered by nucleation of strangeness, is estimated at $\approx 15 - 20\%$, out of which 5\% comes from insufficient information on the $Σ$-hyperon interactions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Tides in merging neutron stars: Consistency of the GW170817 event with experimental data on finite nuclei

The agreement of the nuclear equation of state (EoS) deduced from the GW170817 based tidal deformability with the one obtained from empirical data on microscopic nuclei is examined. It is found that suitably chosen experimental data on isoscalar and isovector modes of nuclear excitations together with the observed maximum neutron star mass constrain the EoS which displays a very good congruence with the GW170817 inspired one. The giant resonances in nuclei are found to be instrumental in limiting the tidal deformability parameter and the radius of neutron star in somewhat narrower bounds. At the 1$σ$ level, the values of the canonical tidal deformability $Λ_{1.4}$ and the neutron star radius $R_{1.4}$ come out to be $267\pm144$ and $11.6\pm1.0$ km, respectively.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2019

Hyperons in hot dense matter: what do the constraints tell us for equation of state?

For core-collapse and neutron star merger simulations it is important to have at hand adequate equations of state, describing the underlying dense and hot matter as realistically as possible. Here, we present two newly constructed equation of state (EoS) including the entire baryon octet. Both EoS are compatible with the main constraints from nuclear physics, both experimental and theoretical. One of the EoS is equally describing maximum mass for cold $β$-equilibrated neutron stars of $2 M_\odot$ in agreement with recent observations. The predictions obtained with the new EoS are compared with the results obtained with DD2Y, the only presently existing EoS containing the baryon octet, that satisfies the same constraints within uncertainties. The main difference between our new EoS models and DD2Y is the harder symmetry energy of the latter. We show that the density dependence of the symmetry energy has a direct influence on the amount of strangeness inside hot and dense matter and consequently on thermodynamic quantities, e.g. the temperature for given entropy per baryon. We expect these differences to affect the evolution of a protoneutron star or binary neutron star mergers. We also propose several parametrizations calibrated to $Λ$ hypernuclei based on the DD2 and SFHo models that satisfy the two solar mass constraint.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

GW170817: constraining the nuclear matter equation of state from the neutron star tidal deformability

Constraints set on key parameters of the nuclear matter equation of state (EoS) by the values of the tidal deformability, inferred from GW170817, are examined by using a diverse set of relativistic and non-relativistic mean field models. These models are consistent with bulk properties of finite nuclei as well as with the observed lower bound on the maximum mass of neutron star $\sim 2 ~ {\rm M}_\odot$. The tidal deformability shows a strong correlation with specific linear combinations of the isoscalar and isovector nuclear matter parameters associated with the EoS. Such correlations suggest that a precise value of the tidal deformability can put tight bounds on several EoS parameters, in particular, on the slope of the incompressibility and the curvature of the symmetry energy. The tidal deformability obtained from the GW170817 and its UV/optical/infrared counterpart sets the radius of a canonical $1.4~ {\rm M}_{\odot}$ neutron star to be $11.82\leqslant R_{1.4}\leqslant13.72$ km.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Warm unstable asymmetric nuclear matter: critical properties and the density dependence of the symmetry energy

The spinodal instabilities in hot asymmetric nuclear matter and some important critical parameters derived thereof are studied using six different families of relativistic mean-field (RMF) models. The slopes of the symmetry energy coefficient vary over a wide range within each family. The critical densities and proton fractions are more sensitive to the symmetry energy slope parameter at temperatures much below its critical value ($T_c\sim$14-16 MeV). The spread in the critical proton fraction at a given symmetry energy slope parameter is noticeably larger near $T_c$, indicating that the warm equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter at sub-saturation densities is not sufficiently constrained. The distillation effects are sensitive to the density dependence of the symmetry energy at low temperatures which tend to wash out with increasing temperature.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

(No) neutron star maximum mass constraint from hypernuclei

(Abridged) The recent measurement of the mass of two $2\, M_\odot$ pulsars has raised the question whether such large masses allow for the existence of exotic degrees of freedom, such as hyperons, inside neutron stars. In the present work we will investigate how the existing hypernuclei properties may constrain the neutron star equation of state and confront the neutron star maximum masses obtained with equations of state calibrated to hypernuclei properties with the astrophysical $2\,M_\odot$ constraint. The study is performed using a relativistic mean field approach to describe both the hypernuclei and the neutron star equations of state. A set of five models consistent with $2\,M_\odot$ for a purely nucleonic composition are employed. The $Λ$-meson couplings are determined for all the models considered. Hyperonic stars with the complete baryonic octet are studied, restricting the coupling of the $Σ$ and $Ξ$ hyperons to the $ω-$, $ρ-$ and $σ-$mesons due to the lack of experimental data, and maximum star masses calculated for unified equations of state. We conclude that the currently available hypernuclei experimental data and the lack of constraints on the asymmetric equation of state of nuclear matter at high densities do not allow to further constrain the neutron star matter equation of state using the recent $2\, M_\odot$ observations. It is also shown that the $Λ$ potential in symmetric nuclear matter takes a value $\sim 30-32$ MeV at saturation for the $g_{ωΛ}$ coupling given by the SU(6) symmetry, close to values generally used in the literature. However, the $Λ$ potential in $Λ$ matter varies between -16 and -8 MeV taking for vector mesons couplings the SU(6) values, at variance with generally employed values between $-1$ and $-5$ MeV.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Strong correlations of neutron star radii with the slopes of nuclear matter incompressibility and symmetry energy at saturation

We examine the correlations of neutron star radii with the nuclear matter incompressibility, symmetry energy, and their slopes, which are the key parameters of the equation of state (EoS) of asymmetric nuclear matter. The neutron star radii and the EoS parameters are evaluated using a representative set of 24 Skyrme-type effective forces and 18 relativistic mean field models, and two microscopic calculations, all describing 2$M_\odot$ neutron stars. Unified EoSs for the inner-crust-core region have been built for all the phenomenological models, both relativistic and non-relativistic. Our investigation shows the existence of a strong correlation of the neutron star radii with the linear combination of the slopes of the nuclear matter incompressibility and the symmetry energy coefficients at the saturation density. Such correlations are found to be almost independent of the neutron star mass in the range $0.6\text{-}1.8M_{\odot}$. This correlation can be linked to the empirical relation existing between the star radius and the pressure at a nucleonic density between one and two times saturation density, and the dependence of the pressure on the nuclear matter incompressibility, its slope and the symmetry energy slope. The slopes of the nuclear matter incompressibility and the symmetry energy coefficients as estimated from the finite nuclei data yield the radius of a $1.4M_{\odot}$ neutron star in the range $11.09\text{-}12.86$ km.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Correlation of the neutron star crust-core properties with the slope of the symmetry energy and the lead skin thickness

The correlations of the crust-core transition density and pressure in neutron stars with the slope of the symmetry energy and the neutron skin thickness are investigated, using different families of relativistic mean field parametrizations with constant couplings and non-linear terms mixing the $σ$, $ω$ and $ρ$-meson fields. It is shown that the modification of the density dependence of the symmetry energy, involving the $σ$ or the $ω$ meson, gives rise to different behaviors: the effect of the $ω$-meson may also be reproduced within non-relativistic phenomenological models, while the effect of the $σ$-meson is essentially relativistic. Depending on the parametrization with $σ-ρ$ or $ω-ρ$ mixing terms, different values of the slope of the symmetry energy at saturation must be considered in order to obtain a neutron matter equation of state compatible with results from chiral effective field theory. This difference leads to different pressures at the crust-core transition density. A linear correlation between the transition density and the symmetry energy slope or the neutron skin thickness of the $^{208}$Pb nucleus is obtained, only when the $ω$-meson is used to describe the density dependence of the symmetry energy. A comparison is made between the crust-core transition properties of neutron stars obtained by three different methods, the Relativistic Random Phase Approximation (RRPA), the Vlasov equation and Thermodynamical method. It is shown that the RRPA and the Vlasov methods predict similar transition densities for $pne$ $β$-equilibrium stellar matter.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Neutrino diffusion in the pasta phase matter within the Thomas-Fermi approach

The behavior and properties of neutrinos in non-uniform nuclear matter, surrounded by electrons and other neutrinos are studied. The nuclear matter itself is modeled by the non-linear Walecka model, where the so-called nuclear pasta phase is described using the Thomas-Fermi approximation, solved in a Wigner-Seitz cell. We obtain the total cross-section and mean-free path for the neutrinos, taking into account scattering and neutrino absorption, and compare the final results for two known kind of model parametrizations: one in which non-linear effects in the strong sector are explicitly written in the model Lagrangian and another one in which the coupling constants are density dependent. The solution for this problem is important for the understanding of neutrino diffusion in a newly born neutron star after a supernova explosion.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Inverse Magnetic Catalysis in hot quark matter within (P)NJL models

Apart from Magnetic Catalysis at low temperatures, recent LQCD studies have shown the opposite effect at temperatures near the transition region: instead of enhancing, the magnetic field suppresses the quark condensates (Inverse Magnetic Catalysis). In this paper, two approaches are discussed within NJL-type models with Polyakov Loop that reproduce both effects.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization properties of asymmetric nuclear matter under a strong magnetic field

We study the effect of a strong magnetic field on the proton and neutron spin polarization and magnetic susceptibility of asymmetric nuclear matter within a relativistic mean-field approach. It is shown that magnetic fields $B \sim 10^{16} - 10^{17}$ G have already noticeable effects on the range of densities of interest for the study of the crust of a neutron star. Although the proton susceptibility is larger for weaker fields, the neutron susceptibility becomes of the same order or even larger for small proton fractions and subsaturation densities for $B > 10^{16}$ G. We expect that neutron superfluidity in the crust will be affected by the presence of magnetic fields.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Hyperons in neutron star matter within relativistic mean-field models

Since the discovery of neutron stars with masses around 2 solar masses the composition of matter in the central part of these massive stars has been intensively discussed. Within this paper we will (re)investigate the question of the appearance of hyperons. To that end we will perform an extensive parameter study within relativistic mean field models. We will show that it is possible to obtain high mass neutron stars (i) with a substantial amount of hyperons, (ii) radii of 12-13 km for the canonical mass of 1.4 solar masses, and (iii) a spinodal instability at the onset of hyperons. The results depend strongly on the interaction in the hyperon-hyperon channels, on which only very little information is available from terrestrial experiments up to now.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Relativistic Mean-Field Hadronic Models under Nuclear Matter Constraints

Relativistic mean-field (RMF) models have been widely used in the study of many hadronic frameworks because of several important aspects not always present in nonrelativistic models, such as intrinsic Lorentz covariance, automatic inclusion of spin, appropriate saturation mechanism for nuclear matter, causality and, therefore, no problems related to superluminal speed of sound. With the aim of identifying the models which best satisfy well known properties of nuclear matter, we have analyzed $263$ parameterizations of seven different types of RMF models under three different sets of constraints related to symmetric nuclear matter, pure neutron matter, symmetry energy, and its derivatives. One of these (SET1) is formed of the same constraints used in a recent work [M. Dutra et al., Phys. Rev. C 85, 035201 (2012)] in which we analyzed $240$ Skyrme parameterizations. The results pointed to $2$ models consistent with all constraints. By using another set of constraints, namely, SET2a, formed by the updated versions of the previous one, we found $4$ models approved simultaneously. Finally, in the third set, named SET2b, in which the values of the constraints are more restrictive, we found $3$ consistent models. Another interesting feature of our analysis is that the results change dramatically if we do not consider the constraint regarding the volume part of the isospin incompressibility ($K_{τ,\rm v}$). In this case, we have $35$ approved models in SET2a and $30$ in SET2b.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Inverse magnetic catalysis in the (2+1)-flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio and Polyakov--Nambu--Jona-Lasinio models

The QCD phase diagram at zero chemical potential and finite temperature subject to an external magnetic field is studied within the three flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model and the NJL model with the Polyakov loop (PNJL). A scalar coupling parameter dependent on the magnetic field intensity is considered. The scalar coupling has been fitted so that the lattice QCD pseudocritical chiral transition temperatures are reproduced and in the limit of large magnetic field decreases with the inverse of the magnetic field intensity. This dependence of the coupling allows to reproduce the lattice QCD results with respect to the quark condensates and Polyakov loop: due to the magnetic field the quark condensates are enhanced at low and high temperatures and suppressed for temperatures close to the transition temperatures and the Polyakov loop increases with the magnetic field.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Relativistic Mean-Field Models and Nuclear Matter Constraints

This work presents a preliminary study of 147 relativistic mean-field (RMF) hadronic models used in the literature, regarding their behavior in the nuclear matter regime. We analyze here different kinds of such models, namely: (i) linear models, (ii) nonlinear σ^3+σ^4 models, (iii) σ^3+σ^4+ω^4 models, (iv) models containing mixing terms in the fields σand ω, (v) density dependent models, and (vi) point-coupling ones. In the finite range models, the attractive (repulsive) interaction is described in the Lagrangian density by the σ(ω) field. The isospin dependence of the interaction is modeled by the ρmeson field. We submit these sets of RMF models to eleven macroscopic (experimental and empirical) constraints, used in a recent study in which 240 Skyrme parametrizations were analyzed. Such constraints cover a wide range of properties related to symmetric nuclear matter (SNM), pure neutron matter (PNM), and both SNM and PNM.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Warm pasta phase in the Thomas-Fermi approximation

In the present paper, the pasta phase is studied at finite temperatures within a Thomas-Fermi (TF) approach. Relativistic mean field models, both with constant and density-dependent couplings, are used to describe this frustrated system. We compare the present results with previous ones obtained within a phase-coexistence description and conclude that the TF approximation gives rise to a richer inner pasta phase structure and the homogeneous matter appears at higher densities. Finally, the transition density calculated within TF is compared with the results for this quantity obtained with other methods.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Light clusters and the pasta phase

The effects of including light clusters in nuclear matter at low densities are investigated within four different parametrizations of relativistic models at finite temperature. Both homogeneous and inhomogeneous matter (pasta phase) are described for neutral nuclear matter with fixed proton fractions. We discuss the effect of the density dependence of the symmetry energy, the temperature and the proton fraction on the non-homogeneous matter forming the inner crust of proto-neutron stars. It is shown that the number of nucleons in the clusters, the cluster proton fraction and the sizes of the Wigner Seitz cell and of the cluster are very sensitive to the density dependence of the symmetry energy.

nucl-th↗