The outer crust properties of cold non-accreting neutron stars are studied within the framework of the quark-meson coupling (QMC) model, which includes the effects of modifications of the quark structure inside individual nucleons when they are within a high-density nuclear medium. With a unique set of five well-constrained adjustable parameters, which have a clear physical basis, the QMC model gives predictions for the ground state observables of even-even nuclei which agree with experiment as well as traditional models. Furthermore, it gives improved theoretical values for nuclei thought to play a role in the outer crusts of neutron stars but for which experimental data is not available. Using the latest experimental data tables wherever possible but otherwise the predictions from the QMC model, we construct an equation of state for the outer crust which is then used within stellar model calculations to obtain an equilibrium sequence of crustal layers, each characterized by a particular neutron rich nucleus. Various properties of the layers are calculated for a range of neutron-star masses, and comparisons are made with alternative equations of state from the literature. This leads to the conclusion that the QMC model successfully predicts the outer crust properties and is fully comparable with the more traditional mass models, which all depend on a larger number of parameters.

中文翻译：

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夸克-介子耦合模型中冷的，不积聚的中子星的外壳

在夸克-介子耦合（QMC）模型的框架内研究了冷的非积聚中子星的外壳特性，其中包括单个核子在高密度核介质中时夸克结构的修饰效应。QMC模型具有一组独特的五个受良好约束的可调整参数，这些参数具有明确的物理基础，可以对偶数原子核的基态可观测值做出预测，这与实验模型以及传统模型都一致。此外，它为认为在中子星外壳中起作用的原子核提供了改进的理论值，但尚无实验数据。尽可能使用最新的实验数据表，否则使用QMC模型的预测，我们为外地壳构造了一个状态方程，然后将其用于恒星模型计算中，以获得地壳层的平衡序列，每个地壳层的特征都是富于中子的特定核。对于一定范围的中子星质量，计算了层的各种特性，并与文献中的替代状态方程进行了比较。由此得出的结论是，QMC模型可以成功地预测外壳特性，并且可以与更传统的质量模型完全媲美，后者更依赖于大量参数。并与文献中的其他状态方程进行比较。由此得出的结论是，QMC模型可以成功地预测外壳特性，并且可以与更传统的质量模型完全媲美，后者更依赖于大量参数。并与文献中的其他状态方程进行比较。由此得出的结论是，QMC模型可以成功地预测外壳特性，并且可以与更传统的质量模型完全媲美，后者更依赖于大量参数。