Numerical Toy-Model Calculation of the Nucleon Spin Autocorrelation Function in a Supernova Core

Physics – High Energy Physics – High Energy Physics - Phenomenology

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

14 latex pages in two-column format, 15 postscript figures included, uses revtex.sty and epsf.sty. Submitted to Physical Revie

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevD.60.023001

We develop a simple model for the evolution of a nucleon spin in a hot and dense nuclear medium. A given nucleon is limited to one-dimensional motion in a distribution of external, spin-dependent scattering potentials. We calculate the nucleon spin autocorrelation function numerically for a variety of potential densities and distributions which are meant to bracket realistic conditions in a supernova core. For all plausible configurations the width of the spin-density structure function is found to be less than the temperature. This is in contrast with a naive perturbative calculation based on the one-pion exchange potential which overestimates the width and thus suggests a large suppression of the neutrino opacities by nucleon spin fluctuations. Our results suggest that it may be justified to neglect the collisional broadening of the spin-density structure function for the purpose of estimating the neutrino opacities in the deep inner core of a supernova. On the other hand, we find no indication that processes such as axion or neutrino pair emission, which depend on nucleon spin fluctuations, are substantially suppressed beyond the multiple-scattering effect already discussed in the literature. Aside from these practical conclusions, our model reveals a number of interesting and unexpected insights. For example, the spin-relaxation rate saturates with increasing potential strength only if bound states are not allowed to form by including a repulsive core. There is no saturation with increasing density of scattering potentials until localized eigenstates of energy begin to form.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Numerical Toy-Model Calculation of the Nucleon Spin Autocorrelation Function in a Supernova Core does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Numerical Toy-Model Calculation of the Nucleon Spin Autocorrelation Function in a Supernova Core, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Numerical Toy-Model Calculation of the Nucleon Spin Autocorrelation Function in a Supernova Core will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-266958

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.