PROPERTIES OF NUCLEI IN THE INNER CRUSTS OF NEUTRON-STARS IN THE RELATIVISTIC MEAN-FIELD THEORY

We study the properties of nuclei in the inner crusts of neutron stars based on the Boguta-Bodmer nonlinear model in the relativistic mean-f ield theory, We carefully determine the surface diffuseness of the nuc lei as the density of matter increases. The imaginary time step method is used to solve the Euler-Lagrange equation derived from the variati onal principle applied to the semiclassical energy density, It is show n that that with increasing density, the spherical nuclei become more neutron rich and eventually me liquid of neutrons, protons, and electr ons. We find that the smaller the value of the incompressibility K, th e lower the density at which the phase transition to uniform matter oc curs. The relativistic extended Thomas-Fermi method is generalized to investigate nonspherical nuclei. Our results show that the spherical n ucleus phase is the only equilibrium stare in the inner crusts of neut ron stars.