The nuclear equation of state provides a mathematical relationship between the thermodynamic variables characterizing the nuclear medium. Within a nucleus, the energy per nucleon can be considered a summation of the energy of symmetric nuclear matter and a correction term related to the neutron-proton asymmetry known as the symmetry energy. Quantifying the symmetry energy, and its density dependence, is one of the key outstanding issues in understanding the nuclear equation of state. The nature of the density dependence of the symmetry energy has wide ranging effects on the properties of neutron-rich nuclei, the structure of neutron stars and the dynamics of supernova collapse.
NSCL beams provide unique opportunities for probing the symmetry energy at densities both above and below that of normal nuclear matter. Recent experimental results have placed preliminary constraints on the symmetry energy for densities less than that of normal nuclear matter, but data do not exist for supra-normal densities. The available experimental data will be examined and implications for higher densities will be discussed. Opportunities for studying the symmetry energy at supra-normal densities with both existing and future experimental detectors will be explored.