Probing the EOS of dense neutron-rich matter with high-energy radioactive beams

Nuclear reactions induced by high energy radioactive beams create a transient state of nuclear matter with high density and appreciable neutron to proton asymmetry. This will provide a unique opportunity to explore novel properties of dense neutron-rich matter and the isospin-dependence of the nuclear equation of state (EOS). Here we study the $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio as a probe of the EOS of dense neutron-rich matter.Comment: Talk given at NN2003 to appear in the Proc. in Nucl. Phys. A (2004

Kaon condensation in neutron stars and high density behaviour of nuclear symmetry energy

We study the influence of a high density behaviour of the nuclear symmetry energy on a kaon condensation in neutron stars. We find that the symmetry energy typical for several realistic nuclear potentials, which decreases at high densities, inhibits kaon condensation for weaker kaon-nucleon couplings. There exists a threshold coupling above which the kaon condensate forms at densities exceeding some critical value. This is in contrast to the case of rising symmetry energy, as e.g. for relativistic mean field models, when the kaon condensate can form for any coupling at a sufficiently high density. Properties of the condensate are also different in both cases.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, Acta Phys. Pol. B in pres

Cosmological solutions of emergent noncommutative gravity

Matrix models of Yang-Mills type lead to an emergent gravity theory, which may not require fine-tuning of a cosmological constant. We find cosmological solutions of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker type. They generically have a big bounce, and an early inflation-like phase with graceful exit. The mechanism is purely geometrical, no ad-hoc scalar fields are introduced. The solutions are stabilized through vacuum fluctuations and are thus compatible with quantum mechanics. This leads to a Milne-like universe after inflation, which appears to be in remarkably good agreement with observation and may provide an alternative to standard cosmology.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. V2: version accepted by Phys.Rev.Lett. plus one pictur