Meson exchange potentials and the problem of saturation in finite nuclei

Abstract

The status of the microscopic explanation of the ground-state properties of finite nuclei (in a non-relativistic framework) is updated, and compared to the corresponding situation in nuclear matter. In addition, modifications of the meson exchange parameters in the nuclear medium are explored. It is demonstrated that a change of the effective meson mass for the scalar and vector mesons yields quite different effects on the saturation properties of nuclear matter and finite nuclei than a change of e.g. the effective mass of the pion. The origin of such differences are explored.