A modified relativistic Hartree approximation to the nuclear matter equation of state

Abstract

We reconsider the vacuum correction term for the Walecka σ- ω model in the relativistic Hartree approximation retaining explicit dependence on the renormalization scale. The usual Chin-Walecka prescription is recovered by setting the renormalization scale equal to the nucleon mass. We find that when the renormalization scale is set to the effective nucleon mass at nuclear saturation density the model gives a dramatically lower compression modulus. The behavior of the effective nucleon mass at saturation and the compression modulus are examined as a function of the renormalization scale.