Hypernuclear Weak Decays

Abstract

The recent theoretical studies of Λ-hypernuclear weak decays of the nonmesonic and π-mesonic ones are developed with the aim to disclose the link between the experimental decay observables and the underlying basic weak decay interactions and the weak decay mechanisms. The expressions of the nonmesonic decay rates Γnm and the decay asymmetry parameter α1 of protons from the polarized hypernuclei are presented in the shell model framework. We then introduce the meson theoretical ΛN → NN interactions which include the one-meson exchanges, the correlated-2π exchanges, and the chiral-pair-meson exchanges. The features of meson exchange potentials and their roles on the nonmesonic decays are discussed. With the adoption of the π + 2π/ρ + 2π/σ + ω + K + ρπ/a1 + σπ/a1 exchange potentials, we have carried out the systematic calculations of the nonmesonic decay observables for light-to-heavy hypernuclei. The present model can account for the available experimental data of the decay rates, Γn/Γp ratios, and the intrinsic asymmetry parameters αΛ (αΛ is related to α1) of emitted protons well and consistently within the error bars. The hypernuclear lifetimes are evaluated by converting the total weak decay rates Γtot = Γπ+Γnm to τ , which exhibit saturation property for the hypernuclear mass A ≥ 30 and agree grossly well with experimental data for the mass range from light to heavy hypernuclei except for the very light ones. Future extensions of the model and the remaining problems are also mentioned. The π-mesonic weak processes are briefly surveyed, and the calculations and predictions are compared and confirmed by the recent high precision FINUDA π-mesonic decay data. This shows that the theoretical basis seems to be firmly grounded.