Atomic binding energies for the ground state of some helium-like hypernuclear atoms

Abstract

In a hypernuclear atom one or more hyperons are present in the nucleus, in addition to nucleons. The atomic properties of such exotic systems have not been rigorously studied contrary to their nuclear properties. The presence of a hyperon inside the nucleus modifies the nuclear charge, mass and strangeness. This results in changes in the electromagnetic interaction between the nucleus and its electrons, and consequently on the spectral lines of the atom. For a few helium-like hypernuclear atoms we calculate the binding energies of the ground state, treating the atom as a three-body system. The nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation is solved for the three-body Coulombic system consisting of the finite-mass nucleus and its two electrons. We measure the effect of hyperon charge on the binding energy and electronic correlation. Quantum effects of the motion of the nucleus are taken into account in these calculations.