Meson mixing amplitudes in asymmetric nuclear matter

Abstract

Using a purely hadronic model, we study the charge-symmetry-breaking ρ–ω, σ–δ, σ–ρ and δ–ω mixing amplitudes in isospin asymmetric nuclear matter. The basic assumption of the model is that the mixing amplitude is generated by nucleon and antinucleon loops and hence driven entirely by the difference between proton and neutron Fermi momenta and the proton–neutron mass difference. We find that the behavior of the mixing amplitude is very complicated in the spacelike region and quite sensitive to the proton fraction of nuclear medium and nuclear density. In particular, in neutron rich nuclei (like Pb) and/or neutron stars the mixing amplitudes become about 10∼100 times as large as those in typical mirror nuclei.