Nuclear equation of state at high density and the properties of neutron stars

We discuss the relativistic nuclear equation of state (EOS) using a relativistic transport model in heavy-ion collisions. From the baryon flow for $Au + Au$ systems at SIS to AGS energies and above we find that the strength of the vector potential has to be reduced moderately at high density or at high relative momenta to describe the flow data at 1-10 A GeV. We use the same dynamical model to calculate the nuclear EOS and then employ this to calculate the gross structure of the neutron star considering the core to be composed of neutrons with an admixture of protons, electrons, muons, sigmas and lambdas at zero temperature. We then discuss these gross properties of neutron stars such as maximum mass and radius in contrast to the observational values.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Phy. Rev.

Shortcut to Legitimacy : Popularity in Putin’s Russia

Survey evidence suggests that Vladimir Putin’s legitimacy rests on three pillars: domestic order, economic prosperity, and the demonstration of great power status internationally. This is problematic inasmuch as it is based on high degrees of personal popularity which inhibits and contravenes the legal-rational legitimacy of state institutions. This requires continued delivery in all three areas in order to maintain the legitimacy of the regime. This framework allows us better to interpret the 2014 Ukraine crisis as an attempt to shore up support in one ‘pillar’ as performance-based legitimacy recedes

Political Mythmaking and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi : Olympism and the Russian Great Power Myth

The theoretical point of departure of this paper is that the perspective of political myth adds to the understanding of political developments in Russia. The upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Sochi in 2014 are discursively constructed as a manifestation of Russia's return to great power status. In official Russian discourse, there is an encounter between the Russian great power myth and the myth of Olympism, both of which are employed to strengthen the status of Russia and of President Putin personally. Thus, the Olympic values of humanism, internationalism, and progress are merged with Russian great power ideals. But there are also examples where the prevailing myths are turned around to criticise the regime and the Sochi Games. However, the most serious challenge to the Putin regime may stem from the great power myth itself, should the regime prove unable to deliver what it requires