The Extent and Observable Properties of Nuclear Pasta in Neutron Star Crusts

A layer of nuclear soft condensed matter called nuclear pasta is predicted to mediate the crust-core transition in neutron stars. We present detailed 3D quantum calculations of nuclear pasta in neutron star crusts and proto-neutron stars. We find that nuclear pasta occurs at lower densities than predicted in semi-classical or classical models, and we predict that over 50% of the mass of a neutron star crust is taken up by nuclear pasta independent of uncertainties in the nuclear equation of state. We show that nuclear pasta likely co-exists with spherical nuclei at the lowest densities, and that multiple phases of pasta likely coexist at higher densities.