Hyperon–nucleon interaction at next-to-leading order in chiral effective field theory

Abstract

Results for the ΛN and ΣN interactions obtained at next-to-leading order in chiral effective field theory are reported. At the order considered there are contributions from one- and two-pseudoscalar-meson exchange diagrams and from four-baryon contact terms without and with two derivatives. SU(3) flavor symmetry is imposed for constructing the hyperon–nucleon interaction, however, the explicit SU(3) symmetry breaking by the physical masses of the pseudoscalar mesons (π, K, η) and of the involved baryons is taken into account. An excellent description of the hyperon–nucleon system can be achieved at next-to-leading order. It is on the same level of quality as the one obtained by the most advanced phenomenological hyperon–nucleon interaction models.