Quantum hadrodynamics and nuclear matter

Journal Article · Mon Feb 20 04:00:00 EST 1984 · AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.34352· OSTI ID:5970753

Serot, B D

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-energy 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: Institute for Theoretical Physics, Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305
• OSTI ID: 5970753
• Journal Information: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States), Journal Name: AIP Conf. Proc.; (United States) Vol. 110:1; ISSN APCPC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

653002* -- Nuclear Theory-- Nuclear Matter
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BARYON NUMBER
BARYON-BARYON INTERACTIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF STATE
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONS
HADRON-HADRON INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
LAGRANGIAN FUNCTION
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
MATTER
MEAN-FIELD THEORY
NUCLEAR MATTER
NUCLEON-NUCLEON INTERACTIONS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY