Molecular Dynamics of a Soft-Matter Analog System near Nuclear Densities

For more than a decade, nuclear physicists have been using molecular dynamics simulations to study exotic phases of matter in neutron stars. At high densities, the strong, short-ranged proton-neutron attraction and long-ranged proton-proton repulsion create complex shapes called 'nuclear pasta' analagous to many self assembling systems known in the soft matter literature. We will present some recent simulations and phase diagrams using this model, including some results showing a helicoidal defect in a lamellar phase. With appropriately chosen parameters and units, this model may be useful for simulating soft matter systems such as block copolymers and lipid membranes.