Inner edge of neutron-star crust with SLy effective nucleon-nucleon interactions

Abstract

The boundary between the solid crust, assumed to be in complete thermodynamic equilibrium (cold catalyzed matter), and the liquid core of a neutron star is studied using Skyrme SLy effective N-N interactions. An approximate value of the density at the inner edge of the crust is obtained from the threshold for the instability of homogeneous $npe$ matter with respect to small periodic density perturbations. Calculations of the bottom layer of the crust are performed within the Compressible Liquid Drop Model. Spherical nuclei are energetically preferred over exotic ones (cylinders, plates, tubes, bubbles), down to the inner edge of the crust, found at the density 0.08 fm^{-3}.