MLL-Kolloquium: Prof. Avraham Gal (Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel): Overview of Strangeness Nuclear Physics

Thursday 20 Oct 2011, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/Berlin

LMU Building, Am Coulombwall 1, Garching, Lecture Hall (ground floor)

The properties of hypernuclei, nuclei in which hyperons are particle-stable, provide a test of hyperon-nucleon (YN) and hyperon-hyperon (YY) interaction models required to extrapolate into multi-strangeness on Earth (RHIC, LHC) and in Heaven (neutron stars). In this talk I will review aspects of our present knowledge of single-Lambda hypernuclei, as revealed through their production and decay modes, and of Sigma-hyperon nuclear interactions. For strangeness -2 and beyond, I discuss the onset of nuclear binding which depends critically on the strength of the YN and YY interactions, suggesting scenarios for Strange Hadronic Matter. Finally, I briefly review aspects of antikaon-nuclear interactions, particularly the current quest for quasibound nuclear states of antikaons, highlighting the issue of kaon condensation.

Abstract kolloquium-20-10-11.pdf