The phase transitions in dense neutron matter with triplet pairing have been investigated. The spectrum of phases of the $^3P_2$-$^3F_2$ model, which adequately describes pairing in this system, is identified and classified with the aid of a separation method for solving BCS gap equations associated with pairing states of arbitrary angular-momentum content. In addition to usual solutions involving a single value of the magnetic quantum number (and its negative), there exist ten real multicomponent solutions. Five of the corresponding angle-dependent order parameters have nodes, and five do not. In contrast to the case of superfluid $^3$He, transitions occur between phases with nodeless order parameters. Results for the temperature dependence of the competition between the various phases have been obtained.
Categories: nucl-th