Finite Nuclei in the Quark-Meson Coupling (QMC) Model

We report the first use of the effective QMC energy density functional (EDF), derived from a quark model of hadron structure, to study a broad range of ground state properties of even-even nuclei across the periodic table in the non-relativistic Hartree-Fock+BCS framework. The novelty of the QMC model is that the nuclear medium effects are treated through modification of the internal structure of the nucleon. The density dependence is microscopically derived and the spin-orbit term arises naturally. The QMC EDF depends on a single set of four adjustable parameters having clear physical basis. When applied to diverse ground state data the QMC EDF already produces, in its present simple form, overall agreement with experiment of a quality comparable to a representative Skyrme EDF. There exist however multiple Skyrme paramater sets, frequently tailored to describe selected nuclear phenomena. The QMC EDF set of fewer parameters, as derived in this work, is not open to such variation, chosen set being applied, without adjustment, to both the properties of finite nuclei and nuclear matter.Comment: 9 pages, 1 table, 4 figures; in print in Phys. Rev. Letters. A minor change in the abstract, a few typos corrected and some small technical adjustments made to comply with the journal regulation

Cold uniform matter and neutron stars in the quark-mesons-coupling model

A new density dependent effective baryon-baryon interaction has been recently derived from the quark-meson-coupling (QMC) model, offering impressive results in application to finite nuclei and dense baryon matter. This self-consistent, relativistic quark-level approach is used to construct the Equation of State (EoS) and to calculate key properties of high density matter and cold, slowly rotating neutron stars. The results include predictions for the maximum mass of neutron star models, together with the corresponding radius and central density, as well the properties of neutron stars with mass of order 1.4 $M_\odot$. The cooling mechanism allowed by the QMC EoS is explored and the parameters relevant to slow rotation, namely the moment of inertia and the period of rotation investigated. The results of the calculation, which are found to be in good agreement with available observational data, are compared with the predictions of more traditional EoS. The QMC EoS provides cold neutron star models with maximum mass 1.9--2.1 M$_\odot$, with central density less than 6 times nuclear saturation density ($n_{0}= 0.16 {\rm fm}^{-3}$) and offers a consistent description of the stellar mass up to this density limit. In contrast with other models, QMC predicts no hyperon contribution at densities lower than $3n_0$, for matter in $\beta$-equilibrium. At higher densities, $\Xi^{-,0}$ and $\Lambda$ hyperons are present

Nucleon form factors and moments of parton distributions in twisted mass lattice QCD

We present results on the electroweak form factors and on the lower moments of parton distributions of the nucleon, within lattice QCD using two dynamical flavors of degenerate twisted mass fermions. Results are obtained on lattices with three different values of the lattice spacings, namely a=0.089 fm, a=0.070 fm and a=0.056 fm, allowing the investigation of cut-off effects. The volume dependence is examined by comparing results on two lattices of spatial length L=2.1 fm and L=2.8 fm. The simulations span pion masses in the range of 260-470 MeV. Our results are renormalized non-perturbatively and the values are given in the MS-scheme at a scale mu=2 GeV.Comment: Talk presented in the XXIst International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics, 21-27 July 2011, Grenoble, Rhones Alpes Franc

Hartree-Fock Formulation of the QMC Model at Finite Temperature

We present, for the first time, a detailed theory of high density matter including the entire baryon octet at finite temperature, based on a fully relativistic mean field model with a consistent treatment of exchange (Fock) terms, using the quark-meson-coupling model (QMC). It has been already demonstrated that the QMC equation of state is applicable in thermodynamic scenarios in stationary and rotating isentropic proto-neutron stars, producing results in agreement with recent observation. It is also suitable for the simulation of the behavior following a binary neutron star merger [1]; https://compose.obspm.fr/eos/205. We develop a comprehensive demonstration of the impact of the Fock terms in the QMC energy density functional on properties of neutrinoless proto-neutron stars with cores containing the full hyperon octet with constant entropy, S/A=2kB. Given the interest in the properties of the proto-neutron star remaining after either a supernova explosion or the merger of two neutron stars, it is vital to develop modern equations of state at finite temperature. While much attention has been paid to relativistic mean-field calculations at finite temperature, it is crucial to explore the consequences of a consistent treatment of the Fock terms

The extended, relativistic hyperon star model

In this paper an equation of state of neutron star matter which includes strange baryons in the framework of Zimanyi and Moszkowski (ZM) model has been obtained. We concentrate on the effects of the isospin dependence of the equation of state constructing for the appropriate choices of parameters the hyperons star model. Numerous neutron star models show that the appearance of hyperons is connected with the increasing density in neutron star interiors. Various studies have indicated that the inclusion of delta meson mainly affects the symmetry energy and through this the chemical composition of a neutron star. As the effective nucleon mass contributes to hadron chemical potentials it alters the chemical composition of the star. In the result the obtained model of the star not only excludes large population of hadrons but also does not reduce significantly lepton contents in the star interior.Comment: 22 pages, revtex4, 13 figure

Chiral symmetry and quantum hadro-dynamics

Using the linear sigma model, we study the evolutions of the quark condensate and of the nucleon mass in the nuclear medium. Our formulation of the model allows the inclusion of both pion and scalar-isoscalar degrees of freedom. It guarantees that the low energy theorems and the constrains of chiral perturbation theory are respected. We show how this formalism incorporates quantum hadro-dynamics improved by the pion loops effects.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figure

Scalar susceptibility and chiral symmetry restoration in nuclei

We study the nuclear modification of the scalar QCD susceptibility, calculated as the derivative of the quark condensate with respect to the quark mass. We show that it has two origins. One is the low lying nuclear excitations. At normal nuclear density this part is constrained by the nuclear incompressibility. The other part arises from the individual nucleon response and it is dominated by the pion cloud contribution. Numerically the first contribution dominates. The resulting increase in magnitude of the scalar susceptibility at normal density is such that it becomes close to the pseudoscalar susceptibility, while it is quite different in the vacuum. We interpret it as a consequence of chiral symmetry restoration in nuclei.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

Dispersion relation formalism for virtual Compton scattering and the generalized polarizabilities of the nucleon

A dispersion relation formalism for the virtual Compton scattering (VCS) reaction on the proton is presented, which for the first time allows a dispersive evaluation of 4 generalized polarizabilities at a four-momentum transfer $Q^2 \leq$ 0.5 GeV$^2$. The dispersive integrals are calculated using a state-of-the-art pion photo- and electroproduction analysis. The dispersion formalism provides a new tool to analyze VCS experiments above pion threshold, thus increasing the sensitivity to the generalized polarizabilities of the nucleon.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Quark mean field model with density dependent couplings for finite nuclei

The quark mean field model, which describes the nucleon using the constituent quark model, is applied to investigate the properties of finite nuclei. The couplings of the scalar and vector mesons with quarks are made density dependent through direct coupling to the scalar field so as to reproduce the relativistic Brueckner-Hartree-Fock results of nuclear matter. The present model provides satisfactory results on the properties of spherical nuclei, and predicts an increasing size of the nucleon as well as a reduction of the nucleon mass in the nuclear environmentComment: 8 pages, REVTeX, 8 ps figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.