Isospin-dependent clusterization of neutron-star matter Original Research Article

Because of the presence of a liquid-gas phase transition in nuclear matter, compact-star matter can present a region of instability against the formation of clusters. We investigate this phase separation in a matter composed of neutrons, protons and electrons, within a Skyrme–Lyon mean-field approach. Matter instability and phase properties are characterized through the study of the free-energy curvature. The effect of β-equilibrium is also analyzed in detail, and we show that the opacity to neutrinos has an influence on the presence of clusterized matter in finite-temperature proto-neutron stars.