A unique spinodal region in asymmetric nuclear matter

Abstract

Asymmetric nuclear matter at subsaturation densities is shown to present only one type of instability. The associated order parameter is dominated by the isoscalar density and so the transition is of liquid-gas type. The instability goes in the direction of a restoration of the isospin symmetry leading to a fractionation phenomenon. These conclusions are model independent since they can be related to the general form of the asymmetry energy. They are illustrated using density functional approaches.