Nuclear pasta structures and the charge screening effect

Non uniform structures of the nucleon matter at subnuclear densities are numerically studied by means of the density functional theory with relativistic mean-fields coupled with the electric field. A particular role of the charge screening effects is demonstrated.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PR

Kaon Condensation and the Non-Uniform Nuclear Matter

Non-uniform structures of nuclear matter are studied in a wide density-range. Using the density functional theory with a relativistic mean-field model, we examine non-uniform structures at sub-nuclear densities (nuclear ``pastas'') and at high densities, where kaon condensate is expected. We try to give a unified view about the change of the matter structure as density increases, carefully taking into account the Coulomb screening effects from the viewpoint of first-order phase transition.Comment: Presented at "Tours Symposium on Nuclear Physics V

Finite size effects on kaonic pasta structures

Non-uniform structures of mixed phases at the first-order phase transition to charged kaon condensation are studied using a density functional theory within the relativistic mean field model. Including electric field effects and applying the Gibbs conditions in a proper way, we numerically determine density profiles of nucleons, electrons and condensed kaons. Importance of charge screening effects is elucidated and thereby we show that the Maxwell construction is effectively justified. Surface effect is also studied to figure out its effect on the density profiles

Finite-size effects at the hadron-quark transition and heavy hybrid stars

We study the role of finite-size effects at the hadron-quark phase transition in a new hybrid equation of state constructed from an ab-initio Br\"uckner-Hartree-Fock equation of state with the realistic Bonn-B potential for the hadronic phase and a covariant non-local Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model for the quark phase. We construct static hybrid star sequences and find that our model can support stable hybrid stars with an onset of quark matter below $2 M_\odot$ and a maximum mass above $2.17 M_\odot$ in agreement with recent observations. If the finite-size effects are taken into account the core is composed of pure quark matter. Provided that the quark vector channel interaction is small, and the finite size effects are taken into account, quark matter appears at densities 2-3 times the nuclear saturation density. In that case the proton fraction in the hadronic phase remains below the value required by the onset of the direct URCA process, so that the early onset of quark matter shall affect on the rapid cooling of the star.Comment: version to match the one published in PR

Coulomb screening effect on the nuclear-pasta structure

Using the density functional theory (DFT) with the relativistic mean field (RMF) model, we study the non-uniform state of nuclear matter, ``nuclear pasta''. We self-consistently include the Coulomb interaction together with other interactions. It is found that the Coulomb screening effect is significant for each pasta structure but not for the bulk equation of state (EOS) of the nuclear pasta phase