Circumstantial evidence for a soft nuclear symmetry energy at supra-saturation densities

Within an isospin- and momentum-dependent hadronic transport model it is shown that the recent FOPI data on the $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio in central heavy-ion collisions at SIS/GSI energies (Willy Reisdorf {\it et al.}, NPA {\bf 781}, 459 (2007)) provide circumstantial evidence suggesting a rather soft nuclear symmetry energy \esym at $\rho\geq 2\rho_0$ compared to the Akmal-Pandharipande-Ravenhall prediction. Some astrophysical implications and the need for further experimental confirmations are discussed.Comment: Version to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Super-soft symmetry energy encountering non-Newtonian gravity in neutron stars

Considering the non-Newtonian gravity proposed in the grand unification theories, we show that the stability and observed global properties of neutron stars can not rule out the super-soft nuclear symmetry energies at supra-saturation densities. The degree of possible violation of the Inverse-Square-Law of gravity in neutron stars is estimated using an Equation of State (EOS) of neutron-rich nuclear matter consistent with the available terrestrial laboratory data.Comment: Version accepted by Physical Review Letter