Theory of kaonic atoms

A nonlocal energy-dependent self-consistent kaon-nucleus optical potential is derived for kaonic atoms. Energy level shifts and widths are calculated for several light nuclei, and the results are compared with experiment. The sensitivity of the results to changes in parameters of the nuclear matter distribution is studied. Nonlocality and off-energy-shell effects are examined.The optical potential is derived by means of a Brueckner-type many-body theory with the independent pair approximation for the kaon and the nucleon. The two-body interaction on which the optical potential depends is represented by separable potentials of the Yamaguchi form. Coupled channels ($\text{K}\text{N}$ and Σπ) are used for the I = 0 states, which are dominated by the $\text{Y}{}_0{}^1$ resonance, and only a single channel ($\text{K}\text{N}$) is used for the I = 1 state.Calculations are carried out in three levels of approximation of the nonlocal energy-dependent optical potential. In no approximation is the potential found to be proportional to the nuclear density. Indeed, the real part of the potential changes sign in the nuclear surface. Sensitivity of the results to variations in the nuclear matter distribution is investigated and found to be on the order of experimental error. Nonlocality and off-energy-shell effects are estimated to be at least as large as this error, so that these effects must be included if one wishes to extract information about the nuclear surface from the existing experimental data. The use of correct nucleon wavefunctions and binding energies is similarly found to be essential in the calculation.