Asymmetric nuclear light clusters in supernova matter

Abstract

We explore the appearance of light clusters at high densities of collapsing stellar cores. Special attention is paid to the unstable isotope 4 H, which was not included in previous studies. The importance of light clusters in the calculation of rates for neutrino matter interaction is discussed. The main conclusion is that thermodynamic quantities are only weakly sensitive to the chemical composition. The change in pressure and hence the direct change in collapse dynamics will be minor. But the change in neutrino heating and neutronization processes can be significant.