Limiting symmetry energy elements from empirical evidence
In the framework of an equation of state (EoS) constructed from a momentum and density-dependent finite-range two-body effective interaction, the quantitative magnitudes of the different symmetry elements of infinite nuclear matter are explored. The parameters of this interaction are determined from well-accepted characteristic constants associated with homogeneous nuclear matter. The symmetry energy coefficient a2, its density slope L0, the symmetry incompressibility Kδ as well as the density-dependent incompressibility K(ρ) evaluated with this EoS are seen to be in good harmony with those obtained from other diverse perspectives. The higher order symmetry energy coefficients a4,a6, etc., are seen to be not very significant in the domain of densities relevant to finite nuclei, but gradually build up at supra-normal densities. The analysis carried out with a Skyrme-inspired energy density functional (EDF) obtained with the same input values for the empirical bulk data associated with nuclear matter yields nearly the same results.