Limiting symmetry energy elements from empirical evidence

Abstract

In the framework of an equation of state (EoS) constructed from a momentum and density-dependent finite-range two-body effective interaction, the quantitative magnitudes of the different symmetry elements of infinite nuclear matter are explored. The parameters of this interaction are determined from well-accepted characteristic constants associated with homogeneous nuclear matter. The symmetry energy coefficient [Formula: see text], its density slope [Formula: see text], the symmetry incompressibility [Formula: see text] as well as the density-dependent incompressibility [Formula: see text] evaluated with this EoS are seen to be in good harmony with those obtained from other diverse perspectives. The higher order symmetry energy coefficients [Formula: see text], etc., are seen to be not very significant in the domain of densities relevant to finite nuclei, but gradually build up at supra-normal densities. The analysis carried out with a Skyrme-inspired energy density functional (EDF) obtained with the same input values for the empirical bulk data associated with nuclear matter yields nearly the same results.