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

The boundary between the solid crust, assumed to be in complete thermodynam ic equilibrium (cold catalyzed matter), and the liquid core of a neutron st ar is studied using Skyrme SLy effective N-N interactions. An approximate v alue of the density at the inner edge of the crust is obtained from the thr eshold for the instability of homogeneous npe matter with respect to small periodic density perturbations. Calculations of the bottom layer of the cru st are performed within the Compressible Liquid Drop Model. Spherical nucle i are energetically preferred over exotic ones (cylinders, plates, tubes, b ubbles), down to the inner edge of the crust, found at rho(edge) = 0.08 fm( -3). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.