  We perform a systematic comparison between the results obtained by solving
fully self-consistently the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov equations, and those
obtained using the semi-classical Extended Thomas-Fermi method, for various
Wigner-Seitz cells within the inner crust of a neutron star. The lack of
pairing correlations in the semi-classical approach leads to a large
discrepancy between the two approaches. This discrepancy is well beyond the
error of the quantum-mechanical calculation, and is related to spurious shell
effects in the neutron gas.

Nuclear Theory