Direct URCA process in light of PREX-2

Abstract

We study the implications of the recent development in nuclear symmetry energy constraints from PREX-2 data on dense matter equation of state and its impact on dURCA threshold density. In this work, we construct the equation of state within the framework of covariant density functional theory implementing coupling schemes of non-linear and density-dependent models and exploring the coupling parameter space of isovector-vector meson to baryons constrained by the isospin asymmetry parameter values deduced from recent PREX-2 data. The modified parameter sets are applied to evaluate the dense matter properties. We find that the updated data suggests the occurrence of dURCA process within neutron star even with mass as low as one solar mass.