Dense nuclear matter: Supernovae and heavy ions

Supernova 1987 A (Shelton) had a large explosion energy. Such a large energy not only favors the prompt explosion mechanism, but also an equation of state at supra nuclear densities which is substantially softer than obtained in conventional calculations. Inclusion of medium corrections, which are consistent with the implications of chiral symmetry restoration at higher densities, softens the high density equation of state, consistent with the supernova explosion requirements. (orig.)