Pion condensation in symmetric nuclear matter

The problem of pion condensation in isospin symmetric nuclear matter is investigated in the framework of the σ-model with a residual nucleon-nucleon interaction (g′σ₁ · σ₂τ₁ · τ₂δ(x)) and Δ-isobars. The equation of state for the pion condensed phase is calculated and applied to a low-energy heavy-ion collision in the TDHF approximation. The effective particle-hole interaction and the response to spin-isospin excitation are used to determine the magnitude of the Landau-Migdal parameter g′. For a reasonable range of g′(0.5 < g′ ≦ in units of g²/4m²_N = 410 MeV · fm³) pion condensation occurs at densities above normal nuclear matter density and leads to an equation of state with no stable density isomer.     

Pion condensation in neutron star matter: (II). Nuclear forces and stability

This paper presents several stable models of charged-pion condensed neutron star matter. The non-relativistic limit of the chirally symmetric Weinberg Lagrangian is used to describe interactions of the condensed pion field with the nucleons, as well as the pi-pi interactions of the condensed field. In the absence of nucleon-nucleon interactions, matter in this model is unstable, tending to ever-increasing baryon density and condensate wave vector. The connection of this model of condensation with the σ-model is shown.A general framework for including nuclear forces is then laid out. Results are given for a simple model in which the nuclear forces are assumed to produce an interaction energy V(ρ) dependent only on the total baryon density, independent of the degree of pion condensation, and also to produce a constant G-matrix element g in the nucleon-nucleon charge exchange channel. In the absence of condensation the equation of state reduces to that of interacting normal matter. We also consider effects of beta equilibrium and form factors in the p-wave pion-nucleon interaction. The condensed models are stable. Depending on the choice of parameters the models exhibit first- or second-order pion condensation phase transitions, or both.     

Abnormal nuclear matter and many-body forces

Qualitative aspects of quantum corrections to the Lee-Wick abnormal nuclear matter are studied in terms of many-body forces in the normal nuclear matter implied by the σ-model Lagrangian field theory. Using a simplified model for the scalar meson self-energy in the nuclear medium and restricting to a set of graphs which in non-relativistic normal nuclear matter reduces to the well-known random phase approximation (RPA), we have found that an abnormal nuclear state can be bound or unbound depending upon whether strongly attractive multi-body forces are present or absent in the normal matter. This is in support of our previous result obtained heuristically from some general considerations of quantum corrections. A strongly bound abnormal matter with an equilibrium density of a few times the normal nuclear matter density ρ₀ can be formed if large attractive manybody forces can be accommodated in the normal nuclear matter. However if one accepts the present status of theories of nuclear matter binding energy in which no attractive many-body forces are called for, then the abnormal state can occur only at large densities (perhaps 8 to 10 times ρ₀) and is expected to be unbound by several hundred MeV per particle.     

The pion propagator in relativistic quantum field theories of the nuclear many-body problem

Pion interactions in the nuclear medium are studied using renormalizable relativistic quantum field theories. Previous studies using pseudoscalar πN coupling encountered difficulties due to the large strength of the πNN vertex. We therefore formulate renormalizable field theories with pseudovector πN coupling using techniques introduced by Weinberg and Schwinger. Calculations are performed for two specific models: the scalar-vector theory of Walecka, extended to include π and ρ mesons in a non-chiral fashion, and the linear σ-model with an additional neutral vector meson. Both models qualitatively reproduce low-energy πN phenomenology and lead to nuclear matter saturation in the relativistic Hartree formalism, which includes baryon vacuum fluctuations. The pion propagator is evaluated in the onenucleon-loop approximation, which corresponds to a relativistic random-phase approximation built on the Hartree ground state. Virtual $\text{N}\text{N}$ loops are included, and suitable renormalization techniques are illustrated. The local-density approximation is used to compare the threshold pion self-energy to the s-wave pion-nucleus optical potential. In the non-chiral model, s-wave pion-nucleus scattering is too large in both pseudoscalar and pseudovector calculations, indicating that additional constraints must be imposed on the lagrangian. In the chiral model, the threshold self-energy vanishes automatically in the pseudovector case, but does so for pseudoscalar coupling only if the baryon effective mass is chosen self-consistently. Since extrapolation from free space to nuclear density can lead to large effects, pion propagation in the medium can determine which πN coupling is more suitable for the relativistic nuclear many-body problem. Conversely, pion interactions constrain the model lagrangian and the nuclear matter equation of state. An approximately chiral model with pseudovector coupling is favored. The techniques developed here allow for a consistent treatment of these models using renormalizable relativistic quantum field theores.     

Quark condensates in nuclear matter with vacuum effects

On the basis of a bosonized Nambu- Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model with derivative expansions, quark condensates in nuclear matter are studied at one-quark loop level and the dependence of meson masses and couplings on the constituent quark mass is investigated. The condensate ratio obtained here < q?q > _ρB / < q?q > _vac is roughly 0.66 with constituent quark mass of 313 MeV, which yields a corresponding σ _N value to be roughly 42.2 MeV at the mean field level and σ _N =31.4 MeV with the vacuum dependence, where the model parameters describing a Lorentz scalar and a vector field are self-determined.     

核物质中内介质等效手征Lagrange量和π介子质量

在核物质中从手征等效Lagrange量得到的π介子有效质量是单值的,并且与π介子场的离壳扩展无关,例如PCAC选择.同位旋对称核物质中的有效π介子质量随增加的核密度有些上升,因此有效类时π介子衰变常数和密度相关的夸克凝聚渐渐下降.另外研究了内介质Gell–Mann–Oakes–Renner关系和其它内介质同一性.最后讨论了同位旋对称、各向同性和均匀的核物质中关于介子传播的等效Lagrange量的几个限制.     

Significance of temperature measurements in relativistic nuclear collisions

We discuss the importance of temperature measurements for probing the properties of dense, hot hadron matter in relativistic nuclear collisions. The effects of the collective matter flow are considered. It is pointed out that information about the existence of a limiting temperatureT ^max?m _σ can only be obtained from future experimental facilities with beam energiesE _LAS>5 GeV/n. We also discuss the possibility of observing abnormal nuclear matter via a secondary, high temperature component in the particle spectra and via a shoulder in the pion multiplicity distributions.     

Pion condensation in heavy ion collisions

We calculate the pion spectrum in dense nuclear matter for finite temperatures. The critical temperatureT _c(ρ) that marks the beginning of a second order phase transition due to pion condensation is given in a phase diagram. We show that in heavy ion collisions, pion condensation should occur, leading to an enhancement in the formation of nuclear shock waves.     

The study of the binding energy of nuclear matter in the relativistic σ− ω− π model with Δ isobar degree of freedom

The relativistic σ?ω?π model is proposed and used to calculate the binding energy of relativistic nuclear matter. By coupling Δ isobar to the σ meson, the zero-point fluctuation energy of the Δ isobar in the one loop approximation is derived. We calculate the effective mass of nucleon and Δ isobar, exchange and correlation energies, pressure and incompressibility of nuclear matter. The density dependence correction to σNN ωNN coupling constants is a very important mechanism to saturate the binding energy. The pion propagator is nuclear matter is constructed by the relativistic particle-hole, delta-hole and short-range correlation. The pion dispersion relation is calculated we find it’s very sensitive to the effective mass of nucleon and Δ isobar.     

Higher partial wave contribution to nuclear matter binding energy: Phase shift approximation versus one pion-plus σ-exchange potential

The contribution to nuclear matter binding energy of states with J ? 3 is estimated from the “OPEP + σ” model and is compared with the previously used OPEP model and Phase shift approximation. Results are respectively 0.99, 2.22 and 0.77 MeV per particle at k_F = 1.36 fm⁻¹, a good improvement over the simple OPEP treatment.     

Thermodynamic properties of superconducting nuclear matter

Phase diagrams of superconducting nuclear matter are calculated by solving a set of finite temperature gap equations, using several Skyrme effective interactions. Our results indicate that nuclear matter may have a superconducting phase in a small region with density near one half of the normal nuclear matter density and temperature k_BT ≲ 1.4 MeV. Our calculation is based on a finite temperature Green's function method with an abnormal pair cutoff approximation. The same approximation is employed in deriving the internal energy, entropy and chemical potential of superconducting nuclear matter. In this way, its equation of state is obtained, and compared with that of normal nuclear matter. The energy gap of superconducting nuclear matter is found to depend rather sensitively on both density and temperature. This dependence is analysed in terms of the Skyrme interaction parameters. The correlation effect on chemical potential is found to be important at high density, and its inclusion is essential in determining the equation of state of superconducting nuclear matter.     

Measurement of pion-nucleus total cross sections as a test for the existence of a pion condensate

We suggest an experimental verification of the existence of a pion condensate in finite nuclei by measuring pion-nucleus total cross sections in the vicinity of T_π ≈ 1.2 GeV. Scattering of the pion beam from the condensate pions leads to a measurable modification both in the energy dependence and magnitude of the pion-nucleus total cross section if the condensate is present with a sufficient strength.     

Emergence of a nonuniform pion condensate in the (1 + 1)-dimensional Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

The (1 + 1)-dimensional Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model describing the system of two-flavor quarks is studied in the limit of a large number of colors in the presence of a baryon chemical potential µ and an isospin chemical potential µ _I . The possible formation of a nonuniform pion condensate in dense quark matter is considered for the cases of both the massive and the massless model.     

Quasi-stationary nonlinear waves in nuclear matter close to pion condensation

The nuclear hydrodynamic model is extended to include the fluctuating spin-isospin density and its interaction with the nuclear matter density. Using the TDHF equations, it is shown that the dynamics of these densities interacting with the pion field can be expressed in terms of the generalized pressures derivable from the generalized nuclear matter equation of state. A phenomenological Skyrme interaction model is used to obtain these pressures. A theory of pion-like spin-isospin quasi-stationary nonlinear waves is formulated from the generalized hydroequations describing the dynamics of a coupled pion nuclear matter system. In the lowest order of nonlinearity, it is proved that the amplitude of the spin-isospin sound wave satisfies a nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The solution of these equations is the amplitude modulated pion-like solitary waves in nuclear matter. When this matter is near the pion condensate, the speed of these nonlinear waves is much smaller than that of the ordinary sound waves. An implication of the solitary waves excited in such nuclear matter produced in heavy ion collisions is discussed. The characteristic signature of breaking of such waves, produced in a heavy ion central collision, is the emission of a delayed component of correlated nucleons (possibly also with a pion) peaked in the forward direction. It may be that the lighter nuclei³He and³H are produced through such a mechanism.     

Pion decays and the pion electromagnetic form factor in a σ-model with quarks

We study in the one-loop approximation the decays of the pion and the pion electromagnetic form factor at low q² in the framework of a σ-model with quarks. The theory has a free parameters the quark and σ masses and the results are very insensitive to their values. We get good approximation for all processes considered except for the ratio of the axial to the vector form factor that appear in the electronic radiative decay of the charged pion. The reason is probably that our model includes the pion-pion interaction only in the isoscalar s-wave at the one-loop level.     

Pion condensation in a relativistic field theory consistent with bulk properties of nuclear matter

Pion condensation has not previously been investigated in a theory that accounts for the known bulk properties of nuclear matter, its saturation energy and density and compressibility. We have formulated and solved self-consistently, in the mean field approximation, a relativistic field theory that possesses a condensate solution and reproduces the correct bulk properties of nuclear matter. The theory is solved in its relativistically covariant form for a general class of space-time dependent pion condensates. Self-consistency and compatibility with bulk properties of nuclear matter turn out to be very stringent conditions on the existence and energy of the condensate, but they do allow a weak condensate energy to develop. The spin-isospin density oscillations, on the other hand, can be large. It is encouraging, as concerns the possible existence of new phases of nuclear matter, that this is so, unlike the Lee-Wick density isomer, that appears to be incompatible with nuclear matter properties.     

Equation of state for pion-condensed neutron matter at finite temperature

The equation of state for neutron matter in the presence of a pion condensate is investigated at finite, but small temperature within the σ model. It is found that a transition of van der Waals type takes place at low temperature for sufficiently strong effective p-wave interaction, which disappears however beyond a critical temperature T_c. Within a wide variety of model assumptions, an upper limit of about 50 MeV is found for T_c.     

Pion condensation and the σ-model in liquid neutron matter

The nature of the ground state of neutron matter at neutron star densities is discussed, starting from the linear σ-model Lagrangian. It is found that there is a possibility of a new, previously unknown, type of condensation, which involves coherent, non-vanishing expectation values of the neutral meson fields of the theory, the σ and π⁰ fields. The σπ⁰ condensate would, like normal neutron matter, develop its own π^? condensate. It is shown that the most general, translationally invariant, condensate is a combined σπ⁰ and π^? condensate with arbitrary, independent, wave numbers. The wave vectors of the condensates are determined by a minimization process, and are found to be non-vanishing and perpendicular.The σπ⁰ condensate corresponds to a state which is very different than previously considered states of neutron matter: all neutron spins are aligned, presumably with some macroscopic domain structure. Thus, criteria for the occurence of this condensate depend on the energy difference between very different states. This means that any prediction as to whether or not the state actually occurs in nature must at the moment be regarded as uncertain. However, using available hyperneted-chain calculations of the contribution to the energies from the direct neutron-neutron forces, it is demonstrated that a σπ⁰ condensate (with its accompanying π^? condensate) might well occur at neutron densities above perhaps 0.5 particles/fm³.This paper leans heavily on the linear σ-model. However, the neutral condensate is a general consequence of chiral symmetry, and can thus also be obtained e.g. from Weinberg's Lagrangian.     

A simple model calculation of pion condensation in neutron matter

The charged pion condensed state in pure neutron matter is described analytically in an approximate calculation based on the chirally invariant σ-model. The calculation includes s- and p-wave condensed pion-nucleon interactions, pi-pi interactions, the effect of the N¹ (1236) resonance, and the (Ericson-Ericson Lorentz-Lorentz) effect of nuclear correlations.     

Density isomerism and the Primakoff effect

We show that the decay width for π⁰→2γ in nuclear matter could be used as a signal for phase transitions in nuclear matter. The decay width of the π⁰ is experimentally measured using pion photoproduction off heavy nuclei by observing the Primakoff peak in the differential cross sections. We present calculations for the differential cross section with corrections to the γ?γ?π⁰ vertex arising from the nuclear medium within the nuclear radius when the medium is in the abnormal matter phase.