Hypernuclear Auger effect within density dependent relativistic hadron field theory

Abstract

The hypernuclear Auger effect, given by the de-excitation of a Lambda hypernucleus by means of the transition of a Lambda hyperon from an initial to a lower lying final single particle state in conjunction with neutron emission from the core nucleus is studied in relativistic DDRH field theory. Baryonic interactions are obtained from the Bonn NN potential by Dirac-Brueckner theory and theoretically derived scaling laws for the meson-hyperon vertices. The model is applied to the ^{209}_Lambda Pb hypernucleus. Lambda and nucleon bound states as well as scattering states are calculated self-consistently in mean-field approximation. The Auger spectra of the emitted neutrons are of complex structure due to a huge combinatorial number of possible hypernuclear transitions. The sensitivity of the neutron Auger spectra to changes in the Lambda sigma and Lambda omega vertices are investigated. The theoretical results show that experimental applications of the hypernuclear Auger effect will require special efforts, e.g. by tagging on the energy of the initially created hyperon.