E. Friedman

Strong interaction physics from hadronic atoms

Strong interaction effects in kaonic, sigma and antiprotonic atoms are analyzed with density dependent (DD) t eff in a teff ρ approach to the optical potential. Different radial sensitivities are observed and the importance of realistic nuclear density distributions is demonstrated. For kaonic atoms the phenomenological DD potential can be related to the propagation of the Λ (1405) in the nuclear medium. For Σ − atoms the potentials can be related to a relativistic mean field (RMF) approach which places constraints on various meson-Σ hyperon coupling constant ratios. For \(\bar{p}\) atoms DD potentials enable reasonable p-wave terms to be accommodated. In all cases the low density limit can be respected with the DD potentials.

Density dependent K- nuclear optical potentials from kaonic atoms

Abstract The density depedence of the K − optical potential V opt ( r ) at zero kinetic energy is studied by fitting it to a comprehensive set of atomic data across the periodic table. Two families of solutions offering improved fits over that for a t eff ϱ ( r ) parameterization are identified, one containing solutions for V opt with r.m.s. radii larger than those of the matter density ϱ, as expected from finite-range folding corrections. The other gives rise to Re V opt of a size smaller than that of ϱ. The latter family offers substantially improved fits to the data, with particularly strong attraction inside the nucleus (200 ± 20 MeV). For a subfamily of solutions, V opt becomes repulsive at large distances, and solutions satisfying the low-density limit V opt → t K N ϱ can be found. Comments are made on the relevance of Λ(1405) nuclear dynamics to these findings.

Experimental Methods for Studying Nuclear Density Distributions

From the earliest days of nuclear physics (Rut 11, Rut 14), the spatial extent of atomic nuclei and the radial distribution of nuclear charge and matter have received considerable attention. One obvious reason for this interest is the role of spatial perception in the macroscopic world and the natural desire to order and characterize things by their sizes and shapes. Beyond this mere description, however, these are fundamental properties of any physical system. It is a primary and appealing gross property of atomic nuclei that, unlike many other quantum systems, they possess a central region of generally uniform density and a reasonably sharp nuclear surface. The central uniform density, or “saturation” property, has its origin in the Pauli principle and the short-range repulsion of nucleons. The sharpness of the nuclear surface is a direct consequence of the short range of the strong interaction.

Constraints on Σ-nucleus dynamics from dirac phenomenology of Σ− atoms

Strong interaction level shifts and widths in

K¯–nuclear bound states in a dynamical model

\Sigma^-

Density dependence in kaonic atoms

atoms are analyzed by using a

Chirally motivated K− nuclear potentials

\Sigma

Density dependence of the Σ nucleus optical potential derived from Σ− atom data

nucleus optical potential constructed within the relativistic mean field approach. The analysis leads to potentials with a repulsive real part in the nuclear interior. The data are sufficient to establish the size of the isovector meson--hyperon coupling. Implications to

K^- nuclear potentials from in-medium chirally motivated models

\Sigma

K−-nucleus relativistic mean field potentials consistent with kaonic atoms

hypernuclei are discussed.