Supernovae and nuclear structure: Electron capture and the nuclear incompressibility

The author considers the effects of electron capture and the high density equation of state on supernovae. Electron captures on nuclei with 60 < A < 100 proceed primarily through thermal deexcitation GT transitions. Quenching of the matrix elements due to ground state correlations and isobaric mixing and the energetics of the process are considered. For densities greater than ρs it is helpful for supernovae to have a soft equation of state. Present knowledge of the nuclear matter parameters is considered and implications for supernovae are drawn. (orig.)