Effect of three-body interaction on hot asymmetric nuclear matter

The properties of hot asymmetric nuclear matter are studied in the framework of the finite temperature Brueckner－Hartree－Fock theory that is extended to include the contribution of microscopic three-body forces. We give the variation of the critical temperature with the asymmetry parameter and show the effect brought by this three-body repulsive potential on the value of the critical asymmetry of the phase transition for asymmetric nuclear matter. Owing to the additional repulsion provided by three-body forces, this value decreases. In addition, the domain of mechanical instability for hot nuclear matter is also indicated, which gradually shrinks with increasing asymmetry and temperature.