Low-momentum interactions with Brown-Rho-Ericson scalings and the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy

We have calculated the nuclear symmetry energy $E_{sym}(\rho)$ up to densities of $4 \sim 5 \rho_0$ with the effects from the Brown-Rho (BR) and Ericson scalings for the in-medium mesons included. Using the $V_{low-k}$ low-momentum interaction with and without such scalings, the equations of state (EOS) of symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter have been calculated using a ring-diagarm formalism where the particle-particle-hole-hole ring diagrams are included to all orders. The EOS for symmetric nuclear matter and neutron matter obtained with linear BR scaling are both overly stiff compared with the empirical constraints of Danielewicz {\it et al.} \cite{daniel02}. In contrast, satisfactory results are obtained by either using the nonlinear Ericson scaling or by adding a Skyrme-type three-nucleon force (TNF) to the unscaled $V_{low-k}$ interaction. Our results for $E_{sym}(\rho)$ obtained with the nonlinear Ericson scaling are in good agreement with the empirical values of Tsang {\it et al.} \cite{tsang09} and Li {\it et al.} \cite{li05}, while those with TNF are slightly below these values. For densities below the nuclear saturation density $\rho_0$, the results of the above calculations are nearly equivalent to each other and all in satisfactory agreement with the empirical values.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Shell model description of the 14C dating beta decay with Brown-Rho-scaled NN interactions

We present shell model calculations for the beta-decay of the 14C ground state to the 14N ground state, treating the states of the A=14 multiplet as two 0p holes in an 16O core. We employ low-momentum nucleon-nucleon (NN) interactions derived from the realistic Bonn-B potential and find that the Gamow-Teller matrix element is too large to describe the known lifetime. By using a modified version of this potential that incorporates the effects of Brown-Rho scaling medium modifications, we find that the GT matrix element vanishes for a nuclear density around 85% that of nuclear matter. We find that the splitting between the (J,T)=(1+,0) and (J,T)=(0+,1) states in 14N is improved using the medium-modified Bonn-B potential and that the transition strengths from excited states of 14C to the 14N ground state are compatible with recent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures Updated to include referee comments/suggestion

Unitarity potentials and neutron matter at the unitary limit

We study the equation of state of neutron matter using a family of unitarity potentials all of which are constructed to have infinite $^1S_0$ scattering lengths $a_s$. For such system, a quantity of much interest is the ratio $\xi=E_0/E_0^{free}$ where $E_0$ is the true ground-state energy of the system, and $E_0^{free}$ is that for the non-interacting system. In the limit of $a_s\to \pm \infty$, often referred to as the unitary limit, this ratio is expected to approach a universal constant, namely $\xi\sim 0.44(1)$. In the present work we calculate this ratio $\xi$ using a family of hard-core square-well potentials whose $a_s$ can be exactly obtained, thus enabling us to have many potentials of different ranges and strengths, all with infinite $a_s$. We have also calculated $\xi$ using a unitarity CDBonn potential obtained by slightly scaling its meson parameters. The ratios $\xi$ given by these different unitarity potentials are all close to each other and also remarkably close to 0.44, suggesting that the above ratio $\xi$ is indifferent to the details of the underlying interactions as long as they have infinite scattering length. A sum-rule and scaling constraint for the renormalized low-momentum interaction in neutron matter at the unitary limit is discussed.Comment: 7.5 pages, 7 figure

Neutron star, β\beta-stable ring-diagram equation of state and Brown-Rho scaling

Neutron star properties, such as its mass, radius, and moment of inertia, are calculated by solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equations using the ring-diagram equation of state (EOS) obtained from realistic low-momentum NN interactions $V_{low-k}$. Several NN potentials (CDBonn, Nijmegen, Argonne V18 and BonnA) have been employed to calculate the ring-diagram EOS where the particle-particle hole-hole ring diagrams are summed to all orders. The proton fractions for different radial regions of a $\beta$-stable neutron star are determined from the chemical potential conditions $\mu_n-\mu_p = \mu_e = \mu_\mu$. The neutron star masses, radii and moments of inertia given by the above potentials all tend to be too small compared with the accepted values. Our results are largely improved with the inclusion of medium corrections based on Brown-Rho scaling where the in-medium meson masses, particularly those of $\omega$, $\rho$ and $\sigma$, are slightly decreased compared with their in-vacuum values. Representative results using such medium corrected interactions are neutron star mass $M\sim 1.8 M_{\odot}$, radius $R\sim 9$ km and moment of inertia $\sim 60 M_{\odot}km^2$. The mass-radius trajectories given by the above four realistic NN potentials are by and large overlapping.Comment: 12.7 pages, 13 figures, 3 table

Half-Skyrmions and the Equation of State for Compact-Star Matter

The half-skyrmions that appear in dense baryonic matter when skyrmions are put on crystals modify drastically hadron properties in dense medium and affect strongly the nuclear tensor forces, thereby influencing the equation of state (EoS) of dense nuclear and asymmetric nuclear matter. The matter comprised of half skyrmions has vanishing quark condensate but non-vanishing pion decay constant and could be interpreted as a hadronic dual of strong-coupled quark matter. We infer from this observation combined with certain predictions of hidden local symmetry in low-energy hadronic interactionsa a set of new scaling laws -- called "new-BR" -- for the parameters in nuclear effective field theory controlled by renormalization-group flow. They are subjected to the EoS of symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter, and are then applied to nuclear symmetry energies and properties of compact stars. The changeover from the skyrmion matter to a half-skyrmion matter that takes place after the cross-over density $n_{1/2}$ provides a simple and natural field theoretic explanation for the change of the EoS from soft to stiff at a density above that of nuclear matter required for compact stars as massive as $\sim 2.4M_\odot$. Cross-over density in the range 1.5n_0 \lsim n_{1/2} \lsim 2.0 n_0 has been employed, and the possible skyrmion half-skyrmion coexistence {or cross-over} near $n_{1/2}$ is discussed. The novel structure of {the tensor forces and} the EoS obtained with the new-BR scaling is relevant for neutron-rich nuclei and compact star matter and could be studied in RIB (rare isotope beam) machines.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, slightly revised for PRC, in pres

The relativistic self-energy in nuclear dynamics

It is a well known fact that Dirac phenomenology of nuclear forces predicts the existence of large scalar and vector mean fields in matter. To analyse the relativistic self-energy in a model independent way, modern high precision nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) potentials are mapped on a relativistic operator basis using projection techniques. This allows to compare the various potentials at the level of covariant amplitudes were a remarkable agreement is found. It allows further to calculate the relativistic self-energy in nuclear matter in Hartree-Fock approximation. Independent of the choice of the nucleon-nucleon interaction large scalar and vector mean fields of several hundred MeV magnitude are generated at tree level. In the framework of chiral EFT these fields are dominantly generated by contact terms which occur at next-to-leading order in the chiral expansion. Consistent with Dirac phenomenology the corresponding low energy constants which generate the large fields are closely connected to the spin-orbit interaction in $NN$ scattering. The connection to QCD sum rules is discussed as well.Comment: 49 pages, 13 figure

Influence of a Z+(1540) resonance on K+N scattering

The impact of a (I=0, J^P=1/2^+) Z^+(1540) resonance with a width of 5 MeV or more on the K+N (I=0) elastic cross section and on the P01 phase shift is examined within the KN meson-exchange model of the Juelich group. It is shown that the rather strong enhancement of the cross section caused by the presence of a Z^+ with the above properties is not compatible with the existing empirical information on KN scattering. Only a much narrower Z^+ state could be reconciled with the existing data -- or, alternatively, the Z^+ state must lie at an energy much closer to the KN threshold.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX, 3 eps figure

Nucleon Resonances with Hidden Charm in Coupled-Channel Models

The model dependence of the predictions of nucleon resonances with hidden charm is investigated. We consider several coupled-channel models which are derived from relativistic quantum field theory by using (1) a unitary transformation method, and (2) the three-dimensional reductions of Bethe-Salpeter Equation. With the same vector meson exchange mechanism, we find that all models give very narrow molecular-like nucleon resonances with hidden charm in the mass range of 4.3 GeV $< M_R <$ 4.5 GeV, in consistent with the previous predictions.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure