Skyrme forces versus relativistic models: Reexamining instabilities

Abstract

Experimental constraints are useful tools in helping to decide, among a number of candidates, which is the more suitable equation of state for nuclear matter. In this work we compare nonrelativistic Skyrme-type and relativistic Walecka-type models when they are used to describe processes related to binary system instabilities and phases coexistence. In general, nonrelativistic and relativistic models predict somewhat different behaviors, but we found that one of the parametrizations of the density-dependent hadronic model shows some similarities with nonrelativistic models in many of the features addressed in our investigation. We have checked that, once experimental data obtained in heavy-ion collisions are extrapolated to account for symmetric and neutron matter, some of the models discussed in the present work, both relativistic and nonrelativistic, should be ruled out.