Effective kaon energy from a novel chiral SU(3) model

A new chiral SU(3) Lagrangian is proposed to describe the properties of kaons and anti-kaons in the nuclear medium. The saturation properties of nuclear matter are reproduced as well as the results of the Dirac-Brückner theory. After introducing the coupling between the omega meson and the kaon, our results for e ective kaon and anti-kaon energy are quite similar as calculated in the one-boson-exchange model

Nuclear Symmetry Energy with Strangeness in Heavy Ion Collision

The role of anti-kaons in the symmetry energy to be determined in heavy-ion collisions as for instance in such observables as the $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio is discussed using a simple chiral Lagrangian. It is shown, with some mild assumptions, that kaons, when present in the system, can affect the EoS appreciably for both symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter. For nuclear matter with small asymmetry with which heavy-ion collisions are studied, it may be difficult to distinguish a stiff symmetry energy and the supersoft symmetry energy, even with kaons present. However the effect of kaon is found to be significant such that $\mu_n-\mu_p \neq 0$ near $x=1/2$, at which the chemical potential difference is zero without kaon amplitude. We present the argument that in order to obtain a reliably accurate equation of state (EoS) for compact-star matter, a much deeper understanding is needed on how the strangeness degrees of freedom such as kaons, hyperons etc. behave in baryonic matter in a Fermi liquid (or possibly a non-Fermi liquid) phase with potential phase changes. It is suggested that such an {\em accurate} treatment could have an important implication on possibly modified gravity.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. revised for publicatio

Kaon effective mass and energy from a novel chiral SU(3) symmetric Lagrangian

A new chiral SU(3) Lagrangian is proposed to describe the properties of kaons and antikaons in the nuclear medium, the ground state of dense matter and the kaon-nuclear interactions consistently. The saturation properties of nuclear matter are reproduced as well as the results of the Dirac-Brückner theory. After taking into account the coupling between the omega meson and the kaon, we obtain similar results for the e ective kaon and antikaon energies as calculated in the one-boson-exchange model while in our model the parameters of the kaon-nuclear interactions are constrained by the SU(3) chiral symmetry. PACS number(s): 14.40.Aq, 12.39.Fe, 21.30.F

Half-Skyrmions, Tensor Forces and Symmetry Energy in Cold Dense Matter

In a previous article, the 4D half-skyrmion (or 5D dyonic salt) structure of dense baryonic matter described in crystalline configuration in the large $N_c$ limit was shown to impact nontrivially on how anti-kaons behave in compressed nuclear matter with a possible implication on an "ice-9" phenomenon of deeply bound kaonic matter and condensed kaons in compact stars. We extend the analysis to make a further prediction on the scaling properties of hadrons that have a surprising effect on the nuclear tensor forces, the symmetry energy and hence on the phase structure at high density. We treat this problem relying on certain topological structure of chiral solitons. Combined with what can be deduced from hidden local symmetry for hadrons in dense medium and the "soft" dilatonic degree of freedom associated with the trace anomaly of QCD, we uncover a novel structure of chiral symmetry in the "supersoft" symmetry energy that can influence the structure of neutron stars.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; contents unchanged but expanded for a journa

Kaons and antikaons in asymmetric nuclear matter

The properties of kaons and antikaons and their modification in isospin asymmetric nuclear matter are investigated using a chiral SU(3) model. These isospin dependent medium effects are important for asymmetric heavy ion collision experiments. In the present work, the medium modifications of the energies of the kaons and antikaons, within the asymmetric nuclear matter, arise due to the interactions of kaons and antikaons with the nucleons and scalar mesons. The values of the parameters in the model are obtained by fitting the saturation properties of nuclear matter and kaon-nucleon scattering lengths. The pion-nucleon scattering lengths are also calculated within the chiral effective model and compared with earlier results from the literature. The density dependence of the isospin asymmetry is seen to be appreciable for the kaon and antikaon optical potentials. This can be particularly relevant for the future accelerator facility FAIR at GSI, where experiments using neutron rich beams are planned to be used in the study of compressed baryonic matter

Strange mesons in dense nuclear matter

Experimental data on the production of kaons and antikaons in heavy ion collisions at relativistic energies are reviewed with respect to in-medium effects. The $K^-/K^+$ ratios measured in nucleus-nucleus collisions are 1 - 2 orders of magnitude larger than in proton-proton collisions. The azimuthal angle distributions of $K^+$ mesons indicate a repulsive kaon-nucleon potential. Microscopic transport calculations consistently explain both the yields and the emission patterns of kaons and antikaons when assuming that their properties are modified in dense nuclear matter. The $K^+$ production excitation functions measured in light and heavy collision systems provide evidence for a soft nuclear equation-of-state.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, Invited talk at the 7. international Conference Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, Strasbourg, July 3-7, 200

Strangeness at SIS energies

In this contribution we discuss the physics of strange hadrons in low energy ($\simeq 1-2 \rm AGeV$) heavy ion collision. In this energy range the relevant strange particle are the kaons and anti-kaons. The most interesting aspect concerning these particles are so called in-medium modifications. We will attempt to review the current status of understanding of these in medium modifications. In addition we will briefly discuss other issues related with kaon production, such as the nuclear equation of state and chemical equilibrium.Comment: Proceedings Strange Quark Matter 2003, Atlantic Beach, NC, USA, March 200

Moments of ϕ\phi meson spectral functions in vacuum and nuclear matter

Moments of the $\phi$ meson spectral function in vacuum and in nuclear matter are analyzed, combining a model based on chiral SU(3) effective field theory (with kaonic degrees of freedom) and finite-energy QCD sum rules. For the vacuum we show that the spectral density is strongly constrained by a recent accurate measurement of the $e^+ e^- \to K^+ K^-$ cross section. In nuclear matter the $\phi$ spectrum is modified by interactions of the decay kaons with the surrounding nuclear medium, leading to a significant broadening and an asymmetric deformation of the $\phi$ meson peak. We demonstrate that both in vacuum and nuclear matter, the first two moments of the spectral function are compatible with finite-energy QCD sum rules. A brief discussion of the next-higher spectral moment involving strange four-quark condensates is also presented.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures; published versio