Probing the Symmetry Energy with the Spectral Pion Ratio

(SπRIT Collaboration)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Many neutron star properties, such as the proton fraction, reflect the symmetry energy contributions to the equation of state that dominate when neutron and proton densities differ strongly. To constrain these contributions at suprasaturation densities, we measure the spectra of charged pions produced by colliding rare isotope tin (Sn) beams with isotopically enriched Sn targets. Using ratios of the charged pion spectra measured at high transverse momenta, we deduce the slope of the symmetry energy to be 42<L<117 MeV. This value is slightly lower but consistent with the L values deduced from a recent measurement of the neutron skin thickness of Pb208.

Original languageEnglish
Article number162701
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume126
Issue number16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Apr 19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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