arXiv subjects

Cheng-Jun Xia

Publications and source records attributed to Cheng-Jun Xia.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

A bag model of matter condensed by the strong interaction

Inspired by various astrophysical phenomenons, it is suggested that pulsar-like compact stars are comprised entirely of strangeons (quark-clusters with three-light-flavor symmetry) and a small amount of electrons. In order to better constrain the properties of strangeon stars, we propose a linked bag model to describe the condensed matter by the strong interaction (i.e., strong condensed matter) in both 2-flavoured (nucleons) and 3-flavoured (hyperons, strangeons, etc.) scenarios. The model parameters are calibrated to reproduce the saturation properties of nuclear matter, which are later applied to hyperon matter and strangeon matter. Compared with baryon matter, the derived energy per baryon of strangeon matter is reduced if the strangeon carries a large number of valence quarks, which stiffens the equation of state and consequently increases the maximum mass of strangeon stars. In a large parameter space, the maximum mass and tidal deformability of strangeon stars predicted by the linked bag model are consistent with the current astrophysical constraints. It is found that the maximum mass of strangeon stars can be as large as $\sim 2.5M_\odot$, while the tidal deformability of a $1.4M_\odot$ strangeon star lies in the range of $180\lesssim Λ_{1.4} \lesssim 340$.

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arXiv2022

Unified nuclear matter EOSs constrained by the in-medium balance in density-dependent covariant density functionals

Considering the effects of charge screening, we propose a new numerical recipe within the framework of Thomas-Fermi approximation, where the properties of nuclear matter throughout a vast density range can be obtained self-consistently. Assuming spherical and cylindrical approximations for the Wigner-Seitz cell, typical nuclear matter structures (droplet, rod, slab, tube, bubble, and uniform) are observed. We then investigate the EOSs and microscopic structures of nuclear matter with both fixed proton fractions and $β$-equilibration, where two covariant density functionals DD-LZ1 and DD-ME2 are adopted. Despite the smaller slope $L$ of symmetry energy obtained with the functional DD-LZ1, the curvature parameter $K_\mathrm{sym}$ is much larger than that of DD-ME2, which is attributed to the peculiar density-dependent behavior of meson-nucleon couplings guided by the restoration of pseudo-spin symmetry around the Fermi levels in finite nuclei. Consequently, different mass-radius relations of neutron stars are predicted by the two functionals. Different microscopic structures of nonuniform nuclear matter are obtained as well, which are expected to affect various physical processes in neutron star properties and evolutions.

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arXiv2021

Quark condensate and chiral symmetry restoration in neutron stars

Based on an equivparticle model, we investigate the in-medium quark condensate in neutron stars. Carrying out a Taylor expansion of the nuclear binding energy to the order of $ρ^3$, we obtain a series of EOSs for neutron star matter, which are confronted with the latest nuclear and astrophysical constraints. The in-medium quark condensate is then extracted from the constrained properties of neutron star matter, which decreases non-linearly with density. However, the chiral symmetry is only partially restored with non-vanishing quark condensates, which may vanish at a density that is out of reach for neutron stars.

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arXiv2021

Nuclear pasta structures and symmetry energy

In the framework of the relativistic mean field model with Thomas-Fermi approximation, we study the structures of low density nuclear matter in a three-dimensional geometry with reflection symmetry. The numerical accuracy and efficiency are improved by expanding the mean fields according to fast cosine transformation and considering only one octant of the unit cell. The effect of finite cell size is treated carefully by searching for the optimum cell size. Typical pasta structures (droplet, rod, slab, tube, and bubble) arranged in various crystalline configurations are obtained for both fixed proton fractions and $β$-equilibration. It is found that the properties of droplets/bubbles are similar in body-centered cubic (BCC) and face-centered cubic (FCC) lattices, where the FCC lattice generally becomes more stable than BCC lattice as density increases. For the rod/tube phases, the honeycomb lattice is always more stable than the simple one. By introducing an $ω$-$ρ$ cross coupling term, we further examine the pasta structures with a smaller slope of symmetry energy $L = 41.34$ MeV, which predicts larger onset densities for core-crust transition and non-spherical nuclei. Such a variation due to the reduction of $L$ is expected to have impacts on various properties in neutron stars, supernova dynamics, and binary neutron star mergers.

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arXiv2020

Systematic study on the quark-hadron mixed phase in compact stars

We investigate systematically the quark-hadron mixed phase in dense stellar matter, and its influence on compact star structures. The properties of quark matter and hadronic matter are fixed based on various model predictions. Beside adopting constant values, the surface tension $Σ$ for the quark-hadron interface is estimated with the multiple reflection expansion method and equivparticle model. To fix the structures of quark-hadron pasta phases, a continuous dimensionality of the structure is adopted as proposed by Ravenhall, Pethick, and Wilson. The corresponding properties of hybrid stars are then obtained and confronted with pulsar observations. It is found that the correlation between radius and tidal deformability in traditional neutron stars preserves in hybrid stars. For those permitted by pulsar observations, in almost all cases the quark phase persists inside the most massive compact stars. The quark-hadron interface plays an important role on hybrid star structures once quark matter emerges. The surface tension $Σ$ estimated with various methods increases with density, which predicts stiffer EOSs for the quark-hadron mixed phase and increases the maximum mass of hybrid stars. The EOSs of hybrid star matter are well constrained at densities $n\lesssim 0.8$ fm${}^{-3}$, while larger uncertainty is expected at higher densities.

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arXiv2020

Thermodynamics and susceptibilities of isospin imbalanced QCD matter

We study the thermodynamics and the susceptibilities of quark matter in the framework of two-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model at finite isospin chemical potential and temperature. Isospin number density, normalized energy density and trace anomaly are shown to be in good agreement with the available lattice data as well as with the results from chiral perturbation theory at zero temperature. We also study how susceptibilities depend on the isospin chemical potential and on temperature. We find a peak for the chiral, pion, and isospin susceptibilities at the critical isospin chemical potential, $μ_I^c(T)$, at the boundary of the phase transition between the normal and pion superfluid phase. Moreover, temperature makes the transition from normal to pion condended phase smoother. We also note that the pion susceptibility always remains zero in the normal phase while it is finite in the superfluid phase.

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arXiv2020

Supercritically charged objects and electron-positron pair creation

We investigate the stability and $e^+e^-$ pair creation of supercritically charged superheavy nuclei, $ud$QM nuggets, strangelets, and strangeon nuggets based on Thomas-Fermi approximation. The model parameters are fixed by reproducing their masses and charge properties reported in earlier publications. It is found that $ud$QM nuggets, strangelets, and strangeon nuggets may be more stable than ${}^{56}$Fe at $A\gtrsim 315$, $5\times10^4$, and $1.2\times10^8$, respectively. For those stable against neutron emission, the most massive superheavy element has a baryon number $\sim$965, while $ud$QM nuggets, strangelets, and strangeon nuggets need to have baryon numbers larger than $39$, 433, and $2.7\times10^5$. The $e^+e^-$ pair creation will inevitably start for superheavy nuclei with charge numbers $Z\geq177$, $ud$QM nuggets with $Z\geq163$, strangelets with $Z\geq 192$, and strangeon nuggets with $Z\geq 212$. A universal relation $Q/R_e = \left(m_e - \barμ_e\right)/α$ is obtained at a given electron chemical potential $\barμ_e$, where $Q$ is the total charge and $R_e$ the radius of electron cloud. This predicts the maximum charge number by taking $\barμ_e=-m_e$. For supercritically charged objects with $\barμ_e<-m_e$, the decay rate for $e^+e^-$ pair production is estimated based on the JWKB approximation. It is found that most positrons are emitted at $t\lesssim 10^{-15}$ s, while a long lasting positron emission is observed for large objects with $R\gtrsim 1000$ fm. The emission and annihilation of positrons from supercritically charged objects may be partially responsible for the short $γ$-ray burst during the merger of binary compact stars, the 511 keV continuum emission, as well as the narrow faint emission lines in X-ray spectra from galaxies and galaxy clusters.

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arXiv2020

Constraints on the symmetry energy and its associated parameters from nuclei to neutron stars

The symmetry energy obtained with the effective Skyrme energy density functional is related to the values of isoscalar effective mass and isovector effective mass, which is also indirectly related to the incompressibility of symmetric nuclear matter. In this work, we analyze the values of symmetry energy and its related nuclear matter parameters in five-dimensional parameter space by describing the heavy ion collision data, such as isospin diffusion data at 35 MeV/u and 50 MeV/u, neutron skin of $^{208}$Pb, and tidal deformability and maximum mass of neutron star. We obtain the parameter sets which can describe the isospin diffusion, neutron skin, tidal deformability and maximum mass of neutron star, and give the incompressibility $K_0$=250.23$\pm$20.16 MeV, symmetry energy coefficient $S_0$=31.35$\pm$2.08 MeV, the slope of symmetry energy $L$=59.57$\pm$10.06 MeV, isoscalar effective mass $m_s^*/m$=0.75$\pm$0.05 and quantity related to effective mass splitting $f_I$=0.005$\pm$0.170. At two times normal density, the symmetry energy we obtained is in 35-55 MeV. To reduce the large uncertainties of $f_I$, more critical works in heavy ion collisions at different beam energies are needed.

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arXiv2019

Constraining quark-hadron interface tension in the multi-messenger era

We study the interface effects of quark-hadron mixed phase in compact stars. The properties of nuclear matter are obtained based on the relativistic-mean-field model. For the quark phase, we adopt perturbation model with running quark masses and coupling constant. At certain choices of parameter sets, it is found that varying the quark-hadron interface tension will have sizable effects on the radii ($ΔR \approx 600$ m) and tidal deformabilities ($ΔΛ/Λ\approx 50\%$) of hybrid stars. These provide possibilities for us to constrain the quark-hadron interface tension with future gravitational wave observations as well as the ongoing NICER mission.

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arXiv2019

Interface effects of strange quark matter

The interface effects play important roles for the properties of strange quark matter (SQM) and the related physical processes. We show several examples on the implications of interface effects for both stable and unstable SQM. Based on an equivparticle model and adopting mean-field approximation (MFA), the surface tension and curvature term of SQM can be obtained, which are increasing monotonically with the density of SQM at zero external pressure. For a parameter set constrained according to the 2$M_\odot$ strange star, we find the surface tension is $\sim$2.4 MeV/fm${}^2$, while it is larger for other cases.

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arXiv2019

Strangeness and $Δ$ resonance in compact stars with relativistic-mean-field models

We explore the effects of strangeness and $Δ$ resonance in baryonic matter and compact stars within the relativistic-mean-field (RMF) models. The covariant density functional PKDD is adopted for $N$-$N$ interaction, parameters fixed based on finite hypernuclei and neutron stars are taken for the hyperon-meson couplings, and the universal baryon-meson coupling scheme is adopted for the $Δ$-meson couplings. In light of the recent observations of GW170817 with the dimensionless combined tidal deformability $197 \leq \barΛ\leq 720$, we find it is essential to include the $Δ$ resonances in compact stars, and small $Δ$-$ρ$ coupling $g_{ρΔ}$ is favored if the mass $2.27{}_{-0.15}^{+0.17}\ M_\odot$ of PSR J2215+5135 is confirmed.

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arXiv2018

Interface effects of strange quark matter with density dependent quark masses

We study the interface effects in strangelets adopting mean-field approximation (MFA). Based on an equivparticle model, the linear confinement and leading-order perturbative interactions are included with density-dependent quark masses. By increasing the confinement strength, the surface tension and curvature term of strange quark matter (SQM) become larger, while the perturbative interaction does the opposite. For those parameters constrained according to the 2$M_\odot$ strange star, the surface tension is $\sim$2.4 MeV/fm${}^2$, while unstable SQM indicates a slightly larger surface tension. The obtained results are then compared with those predicted by the multiple reflection expansion (MRE) method. In contrast to the bag model case, it is found that MRE method overestimates the surface tension and underestimates the curvature term. To reproduce our results, the density of states in the MRE approach should be modified by proper damping factors.

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arXiv2017

Massive neutron stars and $Λ$-hypernuclei in relativistic mean field models

Based on relativistic mean field (RMF) models, we study finite $Λ$-hypernuclei and massive neutron stars. The effective $N$-$N$ interactions PK1 and TM1 are adopted, while the $N$-$Λ$ interactions are constrained by reproducing the binding energy of $Λ$-hyperon at $1s$ orbit of $^{40}_Λ$Ca. It is found that the $Λ$-meson couplings follow a simple relation, indicating a fixed $Λ$ potential well for symmetric nuclear matter at saturation densities, i.e., around $V_Λ = -29.786$ MeV. With those interactions, a large mass range of $Λ$-hypernuclei can be well described. Furthermore, the masses of PSR J1614-2230 and PSR J0348+0432 can be attained adopting the $Λ$-meson couplings $g_{σΛ}/g_{σN}\gtrsim 0.73$, $g_{ωΛ}/g_{ωN}\gtrsim 0.80$ for PK1 and $g_{σΛ}/g_{σN}\gtrsim 0.81$, $g_{ωΛ}/g_{ωN}\gtrsim 0.90$ for TM1, respectively. This resolves the Hyperon Puzzle without introducing any additional degrees of freedom.

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arXiv2017

Exploring detection of nuclearites in a large liquid scintillator neutrino detector

We take the JUNO experiment as an example to explore nuclearites in the future large liquid scintillator detector. Comparing to the previous calculations, the visible energy of nuclearites across the liquid scintillator will be reestimated for the liquid scintillator based detector. Then the JUNO sensitivities to the nuclearite flux are presented. It is found that the JUNO projected sensitivities can be better than $7.7 \times 10^{-17} {\rm cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1}}$ for the nuclearite mass $10^{15} \; {\rm GeV} \leq M \leq 10^{24}$ GeV and initial velocity $10^{-4} \leq β_0 \leq 10^{-1}$ with a 20 year running. Note that the JUNO will give the most stringent limits for downgoing nuclearites with $1.6 \times 10^{13} \; {\rm GeV} \leq M \leq 4.0 \times 10^{15}$ GeV and a typical galactic velocity $β_0 = 10^{-3}$.

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arXiv2016

From strangelets to strange stars: A unified description

The conventionally separated treatments for strangelets and strange stars are now unified with a more comprehensive theoretical description for objects ranging from strangelets to strange stars. After constraining the model parameter according to the Witten-Bodmer hypothesis and observational mass-radius probability distribution of pulsars, we investigate the properties of this kind of objects. It is found that the energy per baryon decreases monotonously for increasing baryon number and reaches its minimum at the maximum baryon number, corresponding to the most massive strange star. Due to the quark depletion, an electric potential well for negatively charged particles is formed on the surface of the quark part, which may provide some unique observables. For a rotational bare strange star, a magnetic field with the typical strength of pulsars is generated.

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arXiv2011

Systematic Study of Survival Probability of Excited Superheavy Nuclei

The stability of excited superheavy nuclei (SHN) with $100 \leq Z \leq 134$ against neutron emission and fission is investigated by using a statistical model. In particular, a systematic study of the survival probability against fission in the 1n-channel of these SHN is made. In present calculations the neutron separation energies and shell correction energies are consistently taken from the calculated results of the finite range droplet model which predicts an island of stability of SHN around Z=115 and N=179. It turns out that this island of stability persists for excited SHN in the sense that the calculated survival probabilities in the 1n-channel of excited SHN at the optimal excitation energy are maximized around Z=115 and N=179. This indicates that the survival probability in the 1n-channel is mainly determined by the nuclear shell effects.

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