Neutrino Processes in Partially Degenerate Neutron Matter

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neutrino Processes in Partially Degenerate Neutron Matter

AU - Bacca, S.

AU - Hally, K.

AU - Liebendörfer, M.

AU - Perego, A.

AU - Schwenk, A.

AU - Pethick, C. J.

PY - 2012/10/10

Y1 - 2012/10/10

N2 - We investigate neutrino processes for conditions reached in simulations of core-collapse supernovae. In regions where neutrino-matter interactions play an important role, matter is partially degenerate, and we extend earlier work that addressed the degenerate regime. We derive expressions for the spin structure factor in neutron matter, which is a key quantity required for evaluating rates of neutrino processes. We show that, for essentially all conditions encountered in the post-bounce phase of core-collapse supernovae, it is a very good approximation to calculate the spin relaxation rates in the nondegenerate limit. We calculate spin relaxation rates based on chiral effective field theory interactions and find that they are typically a factor of two smaller than those obtained using the standard one-pion-exchange interaction alone.

AB - We investigate neutrino processes for conditions reached in simulations of core-collapse supernovae. In regions where neutrino-matter interactions play an important role, matter is partially degenerate, and we extend earlier work that addressed the degenerate regime. We derive expressions for the spin structure factor in neutron matter, which is a key quantity required for evaluating rates of neutrino processes. We show that, for essentially all conditions encountered in the post-bounce phase of core-collapse supernovae, it is a very good approximation to calculate the spin relaxation rates in the nondegenerate limit. We calculate spin relaxation rates based on chiral effective field theory interactions and find that they are typically a factor of two smaller than those obtained using the standard one-pion-exchange interaction alone.

U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/758/1/34

DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/758/1/34

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 758

SP - 34

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

ER -