LIQUID-GAS PHASE TRANSITION IN HOT ASYMMETRIC MATTER WITH NL3

The liquid-gas phase transition of asymmetric nuclear matter is studied within the relativistic mean-field model with nonlinear isoscalar-isovector coupling. The density dependence of symmetry energy constrained from the measured neutron skin thickness of finite nuclei has also been used in the investigation. It is found that several features of liquid-gas phase transition, such as, liquid-gas coexistence region, critical values of pressure and isospin asymmetry and maximal isospin asymmetry increase with the softness of density dependence of symmetry energy. It is also found that the critical temperature is higher for softer symmetry energy.