We propose a novel family of equations of state for symmetric nuclear matter based on the induced surface tension concept for the hard-core repulsion. It is shown that having only four adjustable parameters the suggested equations of state can, simultaneously, reproduce not only the main properties of the nuclear matter ground state, but the proton flow constraint up its maximal particle number densities. Varying the model parameters we carefully examine the range of values of incompressibility constant of normal nuclear matter and its critical temperature, which are consistent with the proton flow constraint. This analysis allows us to show that the physically most justified value of nuclear matter critical temperature is 15.5–18 MeV, the incompressibility constant is 270–315 MeV and the hard-core radius of nucleons is less than 0.4 fm.

• Received 21 November 2017
• Revised 21 March 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.97.064905