Coupled nuclear and leptonic longitudinal collective modes in neutron star matter : a covariant Vlasov approach

Abstract

A covariant relativistic approach based on the Vlasov equation is used to study collective modes in neutron-star matter. The analysis is carried out within relativistic mean-field models describing charge-neutral and $β$-equilibrated matter composed of neutrons, protons, electrons, and muons. We investigate the conditions under which nuclear collective excitations couple to electron and muon plasmon modes, a phenomenon relevant for neutron stars and supernova matter. The study is undertaken considering relativistic mean field models with different isoscalar and isovector properties. It is shown that the nuclear-leptonic coupling can be sufficiently strong to modify the onset of nuclear collective modes and to affect their isoscalar or isovector character.