12 research outputs found
Core-crust transition in neutron stars: predictivity of density developments
The possibility to draw links between the isospin properties of nuclei and
the structure of compact stars is a stimulating perspective. In order to pursue
this objective on a sound basis, the correlations from which such links can be
deduced have to be carefully checked against model dependence. Using a variety
of nuclear effective models and a microscopic approach, we study the relation
between the predictions of a given model and those of a Taylor density
development of the corresponding equation of state: this establishes to what
extent a limited set of phenomenological constraints can determine the
core-crust transition properties. From a correlation analysis we show that a)
the transition density is mainly correlated with the symmetry energy
slope , b) the proton fraction with the symmetry energy and
symmetry energy slope defined at saturation density, or, even better,
with the same quantities defined at fm, and c) the transition
pressure with the symmetry energy slope and curvature
defined at fm
Elementary excitations in homogeneous superfluid neutron star matter: Role of the proton component
The thermal evolution of neuron stars depends on the elementary excitations
affecting the stellar matter. In particular, the low-energy excitations, whose
energy is proportional to the transfered momentum, can play a major role in the
emission and propagation of neutrinos. In this paper, we focus on the density
modes associated with the proton component in the homogeneous matter of the
outer core of neutron stars (at density between one and three times the nuclear
saturation density, where the baryonic constituants are expected to be neutrons
and protons). In this region, it is predicted that the protons are
superconductor. We study the respective roles of the proton pairing and Coulomb
interaction in determining the properties of the modes associated with the
proton component. This study is performed in the framework of the Random Phase
Approximation, generalized in order to describe the response of a superfluid
system.The formalism we use ensures that the Generalized Ward's Identities are
satisfied. An important conclusion of this work is the presence of a
pseudo-Goldstone mode associated with the proton superconductor in neutron-star
matter. Indeed, the Goldstone mode, which characterizes a pure superfluid, is
suppressed in usual superconductors due to the long-range Coulomb interaction,
which only allows a plasmon mode. However, for the proton component of stellar
matter, the Coulomb field is screened by the electrons and a pseudo-Goldstone
mode occurs, with a velocity increased by the Coulomb interaction.Comment: Submitted for publicatio
Rôle de l'isospin dans la transition de phase liquide-gaz de la matière nucléaire
CAEN-BU Sciences et STAPS (141182103) / SudocSTRASBOURG-Bib.Central Recherche (674822133) / SudocSudocFranceF
Elementary excitations in homogeneous superfluid neutron star matter: role of the neutron-proton coupling
International audienceThe thermal evolution of neutron stars is affected by the elementary excitations that characterize the stellar matter. In particular, the low-energy excitations, with a spectrum linear in momentum, can play a major role in the emission and propagation of neutrinos. In this paper, we focus on the elementary modes in the region of proton superfluidity, where the neutron component is expected to have a very small or zero pairing gap. We study the overall spectral functions of protons, neutrons, and electrons on the basis of the Coulomb and nuclear interactions. This study is performed in the framework of the random phase approximation, generalized in order to describe the response of a superfluid system. The formalism we use ensures that the generalized Ward's identities are satisfied. Despite their relative small fraction, the protons turn out to modify the neutron spectral function as a consequence of the nuclear neutron-proton interaction. This effect is particularly evident at the lower density, just below the crust for a density close to the saturation value, while at increasing density the neutrons and the protons are mainly decoupled. The proton spectral function is characterized by a pseudo-Goldstone mode below 2Δ, twice the pairing gap, and a pair-breaking mode above 2Δ. The latter merges in the sound mode of the normal phase at higher momenta. The neutron spectral function develops a collective sound mode only at the higher density. The electrons have a strong screening effect on the proton-proton interaction at the lower momenta and decouple from the protons at higher momenta
Gamma-ray intensities in multi-gated spectra
Accepted for publication in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research AInternational audienceThe level structure of nuclei offers a large amount and variety of information to improve our knowledge of the strong interaction and of mesoscopic quantum systems. Gamma spectroscopy is a powerful tool to perform such studies: modern gamma multi-detectors present increasing performances in terms of sensitivity and efficiency, allowing to extend ever more our ability to observe and characterize abundant nuclear states. For instance, the high-spin part of level schemes often reflects intriguing nuclear shape phenomena: this behaviour is unveiled by high-fold experimental data analysed through multi-coincidence spectra, in which long deexcitation cascades become observable. Determining the intensity of newly discovered transitions is important to characterize the nuclear structure and formation mechanism of the emitting levels. However, it is not trivial to relate the apparent intensity observed in multi-gated spectra to the actual transition intensity. In this work, we introduce the basis of a formalism affiliated with graph theory: we have obtained analytic expressions from which data-analysis methods can eventually be derived to recover this link in a rigorous way
Elementary excitations in homogeneous superfluid neutron star matter: Role of the neutron-proton coupling
Role of the Symmetry Energy on the Structure of Neutron Stars with Unified Equations of State
International audienceThe role of the symmetry energy on the internal constitution and the global structure of a cold nonaccreted neutron star is studied using a set of unified equations of state. Based on the nuclear energy-density functional theory, these equations of state provide a thermodynamically consistent treatment of all regions of the star and were calculated using the four different Brussels-Montreal functionals BSk22, BSk24, BSk25 and BSk26. Our predictions are compared to various constraints inferred from astrophysical observations including the recent detection of the gravitational wave signal GW170817 from a binary neutron-star merger
The inflammasome of tumor cells in colorectal cancer : a potential target to strengthen the Th1/Tc1 response of Tumor Infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs)
International audienc
The inflammasome of tumor cells in colorectal cancer : a potential target to strengthen the Th1/Tc1 response of Tumor Infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs)
International audienc
The Caspase-1/IL-18 Axis of the Inflammasome in Tumor Cells: A Modulator of the Th1/Tc1 Response of Tumor-Infiltrating T Lymphocytes in Colorectal Cancer
International audienceIn colorectal cancer (CRC), a high density of T lymphocytes represents a strong prognostic marker in subtypes of CRC. Optimized immunotherapy strategies to boost this T-cell response are still needed. A good candidate is the inflammasome pathway, an emerging player in cancer immunology that bridges innate and adaptive immunity. Its effector protein caspase-1 matures IL-18 that can promote a T-helper/cytotoxic (Th1/Tc1) response. It is still unknown whether tumor cells from CRC possess a functional caspase-1/IL-18 axis that could modulate the Th1/Tc1 response. We used two independent cohorts of CRC patients to assess IL-18 and caspase-1 expression by tumor cells in relation to the density of TILs and the microsatellite status of CRC. Functional and multiparametric approaches at the protein and mRNA levels were performed on an ex vivo CRC explant culture model. We show that, in the majority of CRCs, tumor cells display an activated and functional caspase-1/IL-18 axis that contributes to drive a Th1/Tc1 response elicited by TILs expressing IL-18Rα. Furthermore, unsupervised clustering identified three clusters of CRCs according to the caspase-1/IL-18/TIL density/interferon gamma (IFNγ) axis and microsatellite status. Together, our results strongly suggest that targeting the caspase-1/IL-18 axis can improve the anti-tumor immune response in subgroups of CRC