Variational and parquet-diagram calculations for neutron matter. V. Triplet pairing

Abstract

We apply a large-scale summation of Feynman diagrams, including the class of parquet-diagrams {\em plus} important contributions outside the parquet class, for calculating effective pairing interactions and subsequently the superfluid gap in P-wave pairing in neutron matter. We employ realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions of the $v_8$ type and perform calculations up to a Fermi momentum of $1.8\,$fm$^{-1}$. We find that many-body correlations lead to a strong reduction of the spin-orbit interaction, and, therefore, to an almost complete suppression of the $^3$P$_2$ and $^3$P$_2$-$^3$F$_2$ gaps. We also find pairing in $^3$P$_0$ states; the strength of the pairing gap depends sensitively on the potential model employed. Our results for triplet pairing are relevant for assessing superfluidity in neutron star interiors, whose presence can affect the cooling of neutron stars.