The Nucleon-Nucleon Potential in the Chromo-Dielectric Soliton Model: Statics

We study the N-N interaction in the framework of the chromo-dielectric soliton model. Here, the long-range parts of the nonabelian gluon self-interactions are assumed to give rise to a color-dielectric function which is parameterized in terms of an effective scalar background field. The six-quark system is confined in a deformed mean field through an effective non-linear interaction between the quarks and the scalar field. The CDM is covariant, respects chiral invariance, leads to absolute color confinement and is free of the spurious long range Van der Waals forces which trouble non-relativistic investigations employing a confining potential. Six-quark molecular-type configurations are generated as a function of deformation and their energies are evaluated in a coupled channel analysis. By using molecular states instead of cluster model wave functions, all important six-quark configurations are properly taken into account. The corresponding Hamiltonian includes the effective interaction between the quarks and the scalar background field and quark-quark interactions generated through one gluon exchange treated in Coulomb gauge. When evaluating the gluonic propagators, the inhomogeneity and deformation of the dielectric medium are taken into account. Results for the adiabatic nucleon-nucleon potential are presented, and the various contributions are discussed. Finally, an outlook is given on how, in the next stage of our investigation, the dynamical effects will be incorporated by employing the generator coordinate method.Comment: 43 pages, REVTeX file followed by 11 uuencoded PostScript figures, DOE/ER/40427-02-N9

Quantum Coulomb systems : screening, recombination and van der Waals forces

The study of quantum Coulomb systems at equilibrium is important for understanding properties of matter in many physical situations. Screening, recombination and van der Waals forces are basic phenomena which result from the interplay of Coulomb interactions, collective effects and quantum mechanics. Those phenomena are introduced in the first part of this lecture, through various physical examples. Their treatment within mean-field theories and phenomenological approaches is also exposed, while related predictions are discussed. This sheds light on fundamental issues, which must be analyzed without any \textsl{a priori} approximations or modelizations. The second part of this lecture is precisely devoted to the presentation of various exact results for the quantum proton-electron hydrogen plasma. Such results are derived within the Screened Cluster Representation, which is constructed by combining the path integral representation of the Coulomb gas with Mayer-like diagrammatical techniques. They illustrate the breakdown of Debye exponential screening by quantum fluctuations, as well as the emergence of familiar chemical species in suitable low-temperature and low-density limits. Also, the amplitude of van der Waals forces is shown to be reduced by free charges