Relative Proton Number in Neutron Star Matter

Abstract

The energy density of neutron star matter is determined from Brueckner-theory calculations of nuclear matter and the pure neutron gas. Three-body clusters are assumed to contribute negligibly to the nuclear energy, according to the theory of Bethe. The relative density of protons, determined by minimizing the total energy, is found to increase with increasing matter density. In addition, we find that muons would appear at about half the normal nuclear density.