Proton-gap medium polarization

Determine the quantitative impact of medium polarization on the proton $^1S_0$ pairing gap and its sensitivity to the proton fraction and neutron-matter equation of state.

Background

Proton superconductivity is affected by polarization of the neutron background, short-range correlations, and proton quasiparticle properties. These effects remain important uncertainties for neutron-star cooling models.

References

What is the quantitative impact of medium polarization on the proton $1S_0$ gap, and how sensitively does it depend on the proton fraction and the neutron-matter equation of state?

— Superfluidity and Vortex Dynamics in Neutron Stars  (2609.01022 - Link et al., 1 Sep 2026) in Section “Status and open issues”