np pairing correlations in low-density region of nuclear matter

Abstract

In the framework of Green's function formalism at finite temperatures, superfluidity of nuclear matter with np pairing correlations is studied. It is shown that, at low densities, equations for the energy gap in the spectrum of quasiparticles and chemical potentials of protons and neutrons allow solutions with negative chemical potential, which corresponds to appearance of Bose-Einstein condensation of deuterons in the low-density region of nuclear matter. In this region, np pairing correlations survive even for large isospin asymmetry. Interaction between nucleons is described by the effective zero range force, developed to reproduce the energy gap in the isospin singlet pairing channel, calculated with the use of the Paris NN potential. The obtained results may be of importance for description of thermal properties of outer low-density regions of neutron stars. © 2004 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".