Symmetry energy in neutron star matter

Abstract

We investigate the structure attained by neutron star matter with proton to neutron ratios ranging from x=0.1 to 0.5, densities in the range of 0.02 fm−3 < ρ < 0.085 fm−3, and temperatures T<4 MeV. In particular we study the pasta shapes and the phase changes previously observed in nuclear matter, as well as the behavior of the symmetry energy. We corroborate the existence of homogeneous to non-homogeneous phase transitions, and the different values of the symmetry energy at different densities and temperatures.