Electron screening in the liquid-gas mixed phases of nuclear matter

Screening effects of electrons on inhomogeneous nuclear matter, which includes spherical, slablike, and rodlike nuclei as well as spherical and rodlike nuclear bubbles, are investigated in view of possible application to cold neutron star matter and supernova matter at subnuclear densities. Using a compressible liquid-drop model incorporating uncertainties in the surface tension, we find that the energy change due to the screening effects broadens the density region in which bubbles and nonspherical nuclei appear in the phase diagram delineating the energetically favorable shape of inhomogeneous nuclear matter. This conclusion is considered to be general since it stems from a model-independent feature that the electron screening acts to decrease the density at which spherical nuclei become unstable against fission and to increase the density at which uniform matter becomes unstable against proton clustering.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Microscopic Study of Nuclear "Pasta" by Quantum Molecular Dynamics

Structure of cold dense stellar matter at subnuclear densities is investigated with quantum molecular dynamics (QMD). We succeeded in showing that the phases with slab-like and rod-like nuclei etc. can be formed dynamically without any assumptions on the nuclear shape. Our result suggests the existence of these kinds of phases in neutron star crusts.Comment: to appear in Proceedings of YKIS01 "Physics of Unstable Nuclei", Kyoto, December, 2001 (supplement volume of Prog. Theor. Phys.

Simulation of Transitions between "Pasta" Phases in Dense Matter

Calculations of equilibrium properties of dense matter predict that at subnuclear densities nuclei can be rodlike or slablike. To investigate whether transitions between phases with non-spherical nuclei can occur during the collapse of a star, we perform quantum molecular dynamic simulations of the compression of dense matter. We have succeeded in simulating the transitions between rodlike and slablike nuclei and between slablike nuclei and cylindrical bubbles. Our results strongly suggest that non-spherical nuclei can be formed in the inner cores of collapsing stars.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, final version published in Phys. Rev. Lett., high-res figures can be seen at http://www.nordita.dk/~gentaro/research/fig

Experimental study on severe plastic deformation of Ti by novel equal-channel angular pressing

This study involves experimental investigation on severe plastic deformation (SPD) of Ti using novel equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) at ambient temperature. Ti wire is tightly encapsulated in a hollow host material made of Al-based functionally graded material (FGM). The host material is prepared by embedding Al–Al3Ti alloy into Al. Three types of the Al–Al3Ti alloys with different Al3Ti volume fractions are used to prepare the host materials. ECAP for specimens is carried out for up to eight passes by route A. The microstructure and hardness of ECAPed specimens are investigated. The changes in microstructure and the increase in the hardness value of Ti with increased number of ECAP passes are evidences showing that Ti is successfully deformed by this technique