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Quantum hadrodynamic and nuclear matter

Conference · · AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5646869

The properties of infinite nuclear matter are studied in the model relativistic quantum field theory of Walecka. Neutral scalar and vector meson exchange reproduces the basic Lorentz structure of the observed nucleon-nucleon interaction, and the consequences of this structure are studied in detail. In the mean-field approximation, nuclear saturation involves a cancellation between large attractive and repulsive components in the average potential energy. The attractive scalar field decreases the nucleon mass significantly, and the strong vector repulsion implies a stiff high-density equation of state. Corrections to the mean-field approach arising from vacuum fluctuations, self-consistent nucleon exchange, and two-nucleon correlations are examined. These have a small effect on the condensed meson fields but may produce significant changes in the binding energy. Corrections to the mean-field equation of state are small at high density.

Research Organization:
Physics Department of Nuclear Theory Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
OSTI ID:
5646869
Report Number(s):
CONF-8405193-
Journal Information:
AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States), Journal Name: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States) Vol. 123:1; ISSN APCPC
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English