Abstract. The temperature and density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy is studied in the nonrelativistic mean field theory by using a density-dependent finite range effective interaction. The temperature evolution of the interaction part of symmetry energy is decided by the nature of the finite range exchange interactions acting between a pair of like and unlike nucleons, an area which is less understood. In view of this, two cases corresponding to different strengths of exchange interaction between two like nucleons are considered to examine their influence on the temperature dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. The symmetry energy obtained as a function of temperature and density is used to study the temperature dependence of leptonic fractions, proton fraction and equation of state of charge neutral n + p + e + μ matter under β-equilibrium for the two different cases.

Print publication: Issue 12 (December 2009)
Received 9 May 2009
Published 28 October 2009