Interactions between Octet Baryons in the SU_6 Quark model

The baryon-baryon interactions for the complete baryon octet (B_8) are investigated in a unified framework of the resonating-group method, in which the spin-flavor SU_6 quark-model wave functions are employed. Model parameters are determined to reproduce properties of the nucleon-nucleon system and the low-energy cross section data for the hyperon-nucleon interaction. We then proceed to explore B_8 B_8 interactions in the strangeness S=-2, -3 and -4 sectors. The S-wave phase-shift behavior and total cross sections are systematically understood by 1) the spin-flavor SU_6 symmetry, 2) the special role of the pion exchange, and 3) the flavor symmetry breaking.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C (Rapid Communication

Quark-Model Baryon-Baryon Interaction and its Applications to Hypernuclei

The quark-model baryon-baryon interaction fss2, proposed by the Kyoto-Niigata group, is a unified model for the complete baryon octet (B_8=N, Lambda, Sigma and Xi), which is formulated in a framework of the (3q)-(3q) resonating-group method (RGM) using the spin-flavor SU_6 quark-model wave functions and effective meson-exchange potentials at the quark level. Model parameters are determined to reproduce properties of the nucleon-nucleon system and the low-energy cross section data for the hyperon-nucleon scattering. Due to the several improvements including the introduction of vector-meson exchange potentials, fss2 has achieved very accurate description of the NN and YN interactions, comparable to various one-boson exchange potentials. We review the essential features of fss2 and our previous model FSS, and their predictions to few-body systems in confrontation with the available experimental data. Some characteristic features of the B_8 B_8 interactions with the higher strangeness, S=-2, -3, -4, predicted by fss2 are discussed. These quark-model interactions are now applied to realistic calculations of few-body systems in a new three-cluster Faddeev formalism which uses two-cluster RGM kernels. As for the few-body systems, we discuss the three-nucleon bound states, the Lambda NN-Sigma NN system for the hypertriton, the alpha alpha Lambda system for 9Be Lambda, and the Lambda Lambda alpha system for 6He Lambda Lambda.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, 18th Nishinomiya Yukawa Memorial Symposium on Strangeness in Nuclear Matter, 4 - 5 December 2003, Nishinomiya, Japan. (to be published in Prog. Theor. Phys. Suppl.

Single-Particle Spin-Orbit Strengths of the Nucleon and Hyperons by SU6 Quark-Model

The quark-model hyperon-nucleon interaction suggests an important antisymmetric spin-orbit component. It is generated from a color analogue of the Fermi-Breit interaction dominating in the one-gluon exchange process between quarks. We discuss the strength S_B of the single-particle spin-orbit potential, following the Scheerbaum's prescription. Using the SU6 quark-model baryon-baryon interaction which was recently developed by the Kyoto-Niigata group, we calculate NN, Lambda N and Sigma N G-matrices in symmetric nuclear matter and apply them to estimate the strength S_B. The ratio of S_B to the nucleon strength S_N =~ -40 MeV*fm^5 is (S_Lambda)/(S_N) =~ 1/5 and (S_Sigma)/(S_N) =~ 1/2 in the Born approximation. The G-matrix calculation of the model FSS modifies S_Lambda to (S_Lambda)/(S_N) =~ 1/12. For S_N and S_Sigma, the effect of the short-range correlation is comparatively weak against meson-exchange potentials with a short-range repulsive core. The significant reduction of the Lambda single-particle potential arises from the combined effect of the antisymmetric LS force, the flavor-symmetry breaking originating from the strange to up-down quark-mass difference, as well as the effect of the short-range correlation. The density dependence of S_B is also examined.Comment: 26 page

All-optical transport and compression of ytterbium atoms into the surface of a solid immersion lens

We present an all-optical method to load 174Yb atoms into a single layer of an optical trap near the surface of a solid immersion lens which improves the numerical aperture of a microscope system. Atoms are transported to a region 20 um below the surface using a system comprised by three optical dipole traps. The "optical accordion" technique is used to create a condensate and compress the atoms to a width of 120 nm and a distance of 1.8 um away from the surface. Moreover, we are able to verify that after compression the condensate behaves as a two-dimensional quantum gas.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Hyperon Single-Particle Potentials Calculated from SU6 Quark-Model Baryon-Baryon Interactions

Using the SU6 quark-model baryon-baryon interaction recently developed by the Kyoto-Niigata group, we calculate NN, Lambda N and Sigma N G-matrices in ordinary nuclear matter. This is the first attempt to discuss the Lambda and Sigma single-particle potentials in nuclear medium, based on the realistic quark-model potential. The Lambda potential has the depth of more than 40 MeV, which is more attractive than the value expected from the experimental data of Lambda-hypernuclei. The Sigma potential turns out to be repulsive, the origin of which is traced back to the strong Pauli repulsion in the Sigma N (I=3/2) ^3S_1 state.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Near-infrared Brightness of the Galilean Satellites Eclipsed in Jovian Shadow: A New Technique to Investigate Jovian Upper Atmosphere

We have discovered that Europa, Ganymede and Callisto are bright around 1.5 {\mu}m even when not directly lit by sunlight, based on observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Subaru Telescope. The observations were conducted with non-sidereal tracking on Jupiter outside of the field of view to reduce the stray light subtraction uncertainty due to the close proximity of Jupiter. Their eclipsed luminosity was $10^{-6}$-$10^{-7}$ of their uneclipsed brightness, which is low enough that this phenomenon has been undiscovered until now. In addition, Europa in eclipse was <1/10 of the others at 1.5 {\mu}m, a potential clue to the origin of the source of luminosity. Likewise, Ganymede observations were attempted at 3.6 {\mu}m by the Spitzer Space Telescope but it was not detected, suggesting a significant wavelength dependence. The reason why they are luminous even when in the Jovian shadow is still unknown, but forward-scattered sunlight by haze in the Jovian upper atmosphere is proposed as the most plausible candidate. If this is the case, observations of these Galilean satellites while eclipsed by the Jovian shadow provide us a new technique to investigate Jovian atmospheric composition, and investigating the transmission spectrum of Jupiter by this method is important for investigating the atmosphere of extrasolar giant planets by transit spectroscopy.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted to Ap