Determining the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy using heavy-ion reactions

Lie-Wen Chen, Che Ming Ko, Bao-An Li, Gao-Chan Yong

Published 2007-11-12Version 1

We review recent progress in the determination of the subsaturation density behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy from heavy-ion collisions as well as the theoretical progress in probing the high density behavior of the symmetry energy in heavy-ion reactions induced by high energy radioactive beams. We further discuss the implications of these results for the nuclear effective interactions and the neutron skin thickness of heavy nuclei.