English

Has a thick neutron skin in ${}^{208}$Pb been ruled out?

Nuclear Theory 2013-10-18 v1 Solar and Stellar Astrophysics Nuclear Experiment

Abstract

The Lead Radius Experiment (PREX) has provided the first model-independent evidence in favor of a neutron-rich skin in 208{}^{208}Pb. Although the error bars are large, the reported large central value of 0.33\,fm is particularly intriguing. To test whether such a thick neutron-skin in 208{}^{208}Pb is already incompatible with laboratory experiments or astrophysical observations, we employ relativistic models with neutron-skin thickness in 208{}^{208}Pb ranging from 0.16 to 0.33 fm to compute ground state properties of finite nuclei, their collective monopole and dipole response, and mass-{\sl vs}-radius relations for neutron stars. No compelling reason was found to rule out models with large neutron skins in 208{}^{208}Pb from the set of observables considered in this work.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1306.6034,
  title  = {Has a thick neutron skin in ${}^{208}$Pb been ruled out?},
  author = {F. J. Fattoyev and J. Piekarewicz},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1306.6034},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

5 pages, 4 figures and 1 table