NUCLEAR-EQUATION OF STATE

We present a discussion of the equation of state of cold nuclear matte r predicted by our recently completed Thomas-Fermi model. The equation is in the form of a three-term polynomial in the cube root of the den sity, with coefficients that are functions of the relative neutron exc ess delta. The coefficients are tabulated in the range from delta=0 (s tandard nuclear matter) to delta=1 (neutron matter), making it very ea sy to calculate, for a given delta, the pressure, compressibility, sat uration binding, and any other property of the Thomas-Fermi equation o f state. We discuss the empirical information concerning abnormal dens ities and large neutron excess that is contained in the measured value s of the surface energy, surface diffuseness, and the neutron skin.