Charge symmetry breaking nuclear forces and the properties of nuclear matter

Abstract

The charge symmetry breaking (CSB) component of the nuclear forces yields the charge asymmetric term Ea(N-Z)/A in the nuclear binding energy of nuclear matter. Calculations performed with several models of CSB nuclear forces, and accounting for the strong short-range two-body correlations, give Ea approximately=-0.2 MeV at the normal nuclear density. The charge asymmetry of the effective nucleon-nucleon interaction is determined primarily by the CSB nuclear forces at the neutron excess, observed in finite nuclei. The exclusion principle and dispersion (self-consistency) effects of the nuclear medium decrease this charge asymmetry.