Neutron Skin, Central Depletion, Neutron–Proton Interaction Effects and 2pF Parameterization for Zr in Neutron Stars

Abstract

A study of the neutron skin thicknesses, central depletions and neutron–proton interactions for the isotopic chain of Zr (32 ≤ N ≤ 98) with even-even and even-odd nuclei is carried out within the framework of the Skyrme–Hartree–Fock approach. The neutron skin thicknesses are calculated by three different methods, one of which is the hard spheres, and the neutron thicknesses including surface and bulk parts are investigated for Zr isotopes as a function of the relative neutron excess I = (N − Z)/A. For that purpose, the level density distributions and 2pF parameters are calculated, and theoretical methods are used to obtained the residual and average neutron–proton interactions (δVnp, δnp), in addition to the single-particle energy levels for $$ j=l\mp \frac{1}{2} $$ states, the charge form factors Fch(k), and the pairing, Fermi and binding energies. The importance of the obtained results is discussed in terms of the quantum effects, the Coulomb repulsion and neutron–neutron interaction.