Symmetry energy terms from macroscopic mass formulae are investigated as generalized polarizabilities of nuclear matter. Besides the neutron-proton (n-p) symmetry energy the spin dependent symmetry energies and a scalar one are also defined. They depend on the nuclear densities ($\rho$), neutron-proton asymmetry ($b$), temperature ($T$) and exchanged energy and momentum ($q$). Based on a standard expression for the generalized polarizabilities, a differential equation is proposed to constrain the dependence of the symmetry energy on the n-p asymmetry and on the density. Some solutions are discussed. The q-dependence (zero frequence) of the symmetry energy coefficients with Skyrme-type forces is investigated in the four channels of the particle-hole interaction. Spin dependent symmetry energies are also investigated indicating much stronger differences in behavior with $q$ for each Skyrme force than the results for the neutron-proton one.
Categories: nucl-th