Large Scale Quantum Simulations of Nuclear Pasta

Complex and exotic nuclear geometries collectively referred to as "nuclear pasta" are expected to naturally exist in the crust of neutron stars and in supernovae matter. Using a set of self-consistent microscopic nuclear energy density functionals we present the first results of large scale quantum simulations of pasta phases at baryon densities $0.03 < \rho < 0.10$ fm$^{-3}$, proton fractions $0.05 < Y_{\rm p} < 0.40$, and zero temperature. The full quantum simulations, in particular, allow us to also study the role and impact of the nuclear symmetry energy on these pasta configurations.