On the uncertainty of hyperon couplings and the electrochemical potential in neutron star matter

Sep, 2000
4 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.C 64 (2001) 025801
e-Print:
Report number:
  • LBNL-46879

Citations per year

2000200620122018202401234
Abstract: (arXiv)
Uncertainty of the hyperon couplings, in particular, that of the Σ\Sigma^-, in dense matter raises the question of the behavior of the electrochemical potential in neutron star matter, which is crucial to the possible presence of the kaon condensed phase. We show that regardless of this uncertainty, the Λ\Lambda hyperon, whose coupling can be constrained by its binding in nuclear matter and other observations, also aided by the Ξ\Xi^-, introduce a saturation of the electrochemical potential just as the Σ\Sigma^- would otherwise do, which tends to mitigate against kaon condensation. The maximum possible mass of neutron stars appears to be \sim 1.5 \msun independent of the uncertainties.
Note:
  • 4 pages, 4 figures, Latex
  • astrophysics
  • hyperon: coupling
  • Sigma-
  • n: matter
  • potential: chemical
  • baryon: density
  • critical phenomena
  • K: condensation
  • numerical calculations