Symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter in the Thomas-Fermi model at finite temperatures

The properties of warm symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter are investig ated in the frame of the Thomas-Fermi approximation using a recent modem pa rameterization of the effective nucleon-nucleon interaction of Myers and Sw iatecki. Special attention is paid to the liquid-gas phase transition, whic h is of special interest in modern nuclear physics. We have determined the critical temperature, critical density and the so-called flash temperature. Furthermore, the equation of state for cold neutron star matter is calcula ted.