Strangeness Degrees Research Articles

Sound velocity, equation of state and strangeness in neutron star matter

This presentation in two parts starts with a brief review on the speed of sound in neutron star matter as inferred from observational data. It is pointed out that, in view of the strong constraints imposed by observed properties of the heaviest neutron stars, the equation of state must be very stiff. Stringent limits can be set on the possible appearance of phase transitions in neutron star cores. The second part discusses issues concerning the occurance of strangeness degrees of freedom, in particular of hyperons, in neutron stars. Here the focus is on the role of repulsive hyperon-nuclear three-body forces, potentially resolving the so-called hyperon puzzle.

Skyrme Crystals, Nuclear Matter and Compact Stars

A general review of the crystalline solutions of the generalized Skyrmemodel and their application to the study of cold nuclear matter at finite density and the Equation of State (EOS) of neutron stars is presented. For the relevant range of densities, the ground state of the Skyrmemodel on the three torus is shown to correspond to configurations with different symmetries, with a sequence of phase transitions between such configurations. The effects of nonzero finite isospin asymmetry are taken into account by the canonical quantization of isospin collective coordinates, and some thermodynamical and nuclear observables (such as the symmetry energy) are computed as a function of the density. We also explore the extension of the model to accommodate strange degrees of freedom, and find a first-order transition for the condensation of kaons in the Skyrme crystal background in a thermodynamically consistent, non-perturbative way. Finally, an approximate EOS of dense matter is constructed by fitting the free parameters of the model to some nuclear observables close to saturation density, which are particularly relevant for the description of nuclear matter. The resulting neutron star mass–radius curves already reasonably satisfy current astrophysical constraints.

Kaon condensation in skyrmion matter and compact stars

We address the possibility of the appearance of a charged kaon condensate in neutron star cores described within a generalized Skyrme model. Our treatment of strange degrees of freedom is based on the Bound State Approach by Callan and Klebanov, which allows to obtain an in-medium effective potential for the $s$-wave kaon condensate. We predict the onset of kaon condensation at a certain threshold density - whose value depends on the parameters of the model, and ranges between 1.5 and 2.5 times saturation density -, and obtain both the particle fractions and equation of state for dense matter in the kaon condensed phase. Finally, we discuss the effect of such condensates on the mass-radius curves and other observable properties of neutron stars with kaon condensed cores.

Quenched Λ spin-orbit splitting by a relativistic Fock diagram in single- Λ hypernuclei

We extend the relativistic Hartree-Fock (RHF) theory to study the structure of single-$\Lambda$ hypernuclei. The density dependence is taken in both meson-nucleon and meson-hyperon coupling strengths, and the induced $\Lambda$-nucleon ($\Lambda N$) effective interactions are determined by fitting $\Lambda$ separation energies to the experimental data for several single-$\Lambda$ hypernuclei. The equilibrium of nuclear dynamics described by the RHF model in normal atomic nuclei, namely, the balance between nuclear attractive and repulsive interactions, is then found to be drastically changed in single-$\Lambda$ hypernuclei, revealing a different role of Fock terms via $\Lambda$ hyperon from the nucleon exchange. Since only one hyperon exists in a single-$\Lambda$ hypernucleus, the overwhelmed $\Lambda N$ and $\Lambda\Lambda$ attractions via the Hartree than the $\Lambda\Lambda$ repulsion from the Fock terms require an alternation of meson-hyperon coupling strengths in RHF to rebalance the effective nuclear force with the strangeness degree of freedom, leading to an improved description of $\Lambda$ Dirac mass and correspondingly a systematically reduced $\sigma$-$\Lambda$ coupling strength $g_{\sigma\Lambda}$ in current models as compared to those relativistic mean-field (RMF) approaches without Fock terms. As a result, the effective $\Lambda$ spin-orbit coupling potential in the ground state of hypernuclei is suppressed, and these RHF models predict correspondingly a quenching effect in $\Lambda$ spin-orbit splitting in comparison with the RMF cases. Furthermore, the $\Lambda$ spin-orbit splitting could decrease efficiently by evolving the hyperon-relevant couplings $g_{\sigma\Lambda}$ and $g_{\omega\Lambda}$ simultaneously, where to reconcile with the empirical value the RHF models address a larger parameter space of meson-hyperon couplings.

Investigating the role of strangeness in baryon–antibaryon annihilation at the LHC

Annihilation dynamics plays a fundamental role in the baryon–antibaryon interaction (B–B‾) at low-energy and its strength and range are crucial in the assessment of possible baryonic bound states. Experimental data on annihilation cross sections are available for the p–p‾ system but not in the low relative momentum region. Data regarding the B–B‾ interaction with strange degrees of freedom are extremely scarce, hence the modeling of the annihilation contributions is mainly based on nucleon–antinucleon (N–N‾) results, when available. In this letter we present a measurement of the p–p‾, p–Λ‾⊕p‾–Λ and Λ–Λ‾ interaction using correlation functions in the relative momentum space in high-multiplicity triggered pp collisions at s=13 TeV recorded by ALICE at the LHC. In the p–p‾ system the couplings to the mesonic channels in different partial waves are extracted by adopting a coupled-channel approach with recent χEFT potentials. The inclusion of these inelastic channels provides good agreement with the data, showing a significant presence of the annihilation term down to zero momentum. Predictions obtained using the Lednický–Lyuboshits formula and scattering parameters obtained from heavy-ion collisions, hence mainly sensitive to elastic processes, are compared with the experimental p–Λ‾⊕p‾–Λ and Λ–Λ‾ correlations. The model describes the Λ–Λ‾ data and underestimates the p–Λ‾⊕p‾–Λ data in the region of momenta below 200 MeV/c. The observed deviation indicates a different contribution of annihilation channels to the two systems containing strange hadrons.

Prediction of exotic hyperon halos in neutron-rich Zr hypernuclei

Abstract We study the single- and double-Λ hypernuclei in Zr isotopes with the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov model and Skyrme-type nucleon–nucleon, Λ–nucleon, and Λ–Λ interactions. We found two peculiar features of the Λ hyperon halo phenomena that have never been found in nuclei without the strangeness degree of freedom. One is the d-wave halo, and the other is a bunch of three halo orbits just below the Λ hyperon threshold in $^{137}_\Lambda$Zr and also in $^{138}_{\Lambda \Lambda }$Zr. We name these exotic halo phenomena giant hyperon halos in hypernuclei whose core nucleus 136Zr was predicted to have a “giant neutron halo.” The interaction between Λ hyperons and the neutrons is responsible for inducing giant hyperon halo phenomena in the single- and double-Λ nuclei $^{137}_\Lambda$Zr and $^{138}_{\Lambda \Lambda }$Zr.

Inhomogeneous chiral condensates in three-flavor quark matter

We investigate the effect of strange quark degrees of freedom on the formation of inhomogeneous chiral condensates in a three-flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model in mean-field approximation. A Ginzburg-Landau study complemented by a stability analysis allow us to determine in a general way the location of the critical and Lifshitz points, together with the phase boundary where the (partially) chirally restored phase becomes unstable against developing inhomogeneities, without resorting to specific assumptions on the shape of the chiral condensate. We discuss the resulting phase structure and study the influence of the bare strange-quark mass $m_s$ and the axial anomaly on the size and location of the inhomogeneous phase compared to the first-order transition associated with homogeneous matter. We find that, as a consequence of the axial anomaly, critical and Lifshitz point split. For realistic strange-quark masses the effect is however very small and becomes sizeable only for small values of $m_s$.

Conformal prediction based active learning by linear regression optimization

Conformal prediction uses the degree of strangeness (nonconformity) of data instances to determine the confidence values of new predictions. We propose a conformal prediction based active learning algorithm, referred to as CPAL-LR, to improve the performance of pattern classification algorithms. CPAL-LR uses a novel query function that determines the relevance of unlabeled instances through the solution of a constrained linear regression model, incorporating uncertainty, diversity, and representativeness in the optimization problem. Furthermore, we present a nonconformity measure that produces reliable confidence values. CPAL-LR is implemented in conjunction with support vector machines, sparse coding algorithms, and convolutional networks. Experiments conducted on face and object recognition databases demonstrate that CPAL-LR improves the classification performance of a variety classifiers, outperforming previously proposed active learning techniques, while producing reliable confidence values.

Inductive conformal predictor for convolutional neural networks: Applications to active learning for image classification

Conformal prediction uses the degree of strangeness (nonconformity) of data instances to determine the confidence values of new predictions. We propose an inductive conformal predictor for convolutional neural networks (CNNs), referring to it as ICP-CNN, which uses a novel nonconformity measure that produces reliable confidence values. Furthermore, ICP-CNN is used to improve classification performance through active learning, selecting instances from an unlabeled pool based on the evaluation of three criteria: informativeness, diversity, and information density. Distance metric learning is employed to measure diversity, using a similarity measure that adapts to the database being used. Moreover, information density is considered to filter outliers. Experiments conducted on face and object recognition databases demonstrate that ICP-CNN improves the classification performance of CNNs, outperforming previously proposed active learning techniques, while producing reliable confidence values.

Hypernuclear no-core shell model

We extend the No-Core Shell Model (NCSM) methodology to incorporate strangeness degrees of freedom and apply it to single-$\Lambda$ hypernuclei. After discussing the transformation of the hyperon-nucleon (YN) interaction into Harmonic-Oscillator (HO) basis and the Similarity Renormalization Group transformation applied to it to improve model-space convergence, we present two complementary formulations of the NCSM, one that uses relative Jacobi coordinates and symmetry-adapted basis states to fully exploit the symmetries of the hypernuclear Hamiltonian, and one working in a Slater determinant basis of HO states where antisymmetrization and computation of matrix elements is simple and to which an importance-truncation scheme can be applied. For the Jacobi-coordinate formulation, we give an iterative procedure for the construction of the antisymmetric basis for arbitrary particle number and present the formulae used to embed two- and three-baryon interactions into the many-body space. For the Slater-determinant formulation, we discuss the conversion of the YN interaction matrix elements from relative to single-particle coordinates, the importance-truncation scheme that tailors the model space to the description of the low-lying spectrum, and the role of the redundant center-of-mass degrees of freedom. We conclude with a validation of both formulations in the four-body system, giving converged ground-state energies for a chiral Hamiltonian, and present a short survey of the $A\le7$ hyper-helium isotopes.

Effective interactions of hyperons and mass-radius relation of neutron stars

We examine the role of hyperons in a neutron star based on the relativistic mean field approach. For nuclear matter below 1.5 times the normal nuclear density we constrain the model parameters by using the symmetric nuclear matter properties and theoretical investigations for neutron matter in the literature. We then extend the model to higher densities by including hyperons and isoscalar vector mesons that contain strangeness degree of freedom. We confirm that the $\phi$ meson induces a $\Lambda$ repulsive force and hardens the equation of state. The hardening arising from the $\phi$ meson compensates the softening from the existence of hyperons. The flavor SU(3) and spin-flavor SU(6) relations are examined as well. We found that the coupling constants fitted by neutron matter properties could yield high enough maximum mass of a neutron star and the obtained results satisfy both the mass and radius constraints. The onset of the hyperon direct Urca process in neutron stars is also investigated using our parametrization.

Strangeness to increase the density of finite nuclear systems in constraining the high-density nuclear equation of state

As the high-density nuclear equation of state (EOS) is not very well constrained, we suggest that the structural properties from the finite systems can be used to extract a more accurate constraint. By including the strangeness degrees of freedom, the hyperon or anti-kaon, the finite systems can then have a rather high-density core which is relevant to the nuclear EOS at high densities directly. It is found that the density dependence of the symmetry energy is sensitive to the properties of multi-\(\Lambda \) hypernuclei, while the high-density EOS of symmetric matter correlates sensitively to the properties of kaonic nuclei.

Construction of lambda-nucleon s-wave potential through quantum inverse scattering at fixed angular momentum

Quantum systems with a strangeness degree of freedom are very important as they provide an extra dimension, and hence a deeper insight into nuclear matter. Usually phenomenological potentials obtained through meson exchange theories are used in investigating these hypernuclear systems. In this paper potentials for lambda-nucleon interactions in the spin singlet and spin triplet states, constructed through fixed-angular momentum inversion based on Marchenko theory, are presented. Owing to experimental difficulties in obtaining a sufficient number of lambda-nucleon scattering events, theoretical phase shifts are used as input for the inversion. The constructed potential is energy-independent, making it more suitable for quantum-mechanical few-body calculations.

Neutron Stars: Laboratories for Fundamental Physics Under Extreme Astrophysical Conditions

We discuss different exotic phases and components of matter from the crust to the core of neutron stars based on theoretical models for equations of state relevant to core collapse supernova simulations and neutron star merger. Parameters of the models are constrained from laboratory experiments. It is observed that equations of state involving strangeness degrees of freedom such as hyperons and Bose-Einstein condensates are compatible with 2M$_{solar}$ neutron stars. The role of hyperons is explored on the evolution and stability of the protoneutron star (PNS) in the context of SN1987A. Moment of inertia, mass and radius which are direct probes of neutron star interior are computed and their observational consequences are discussed. We continue our study on the dense matter under strong magnetic fields and its application to magnetoelastic oscillations of neutron stars.

Oxherding Tale and Siddhartha: Philosophy, Fiction, and the Emergence of a Hidden Tradition

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Liquid-gas phase transition in strange hadronic matter with relativistic models

Background: The advent of new dedicated experimental programs on hyperon physics is rapidly boosting the field, and the possibility of synthetizing multiple strange hypernuclei requires the addition of the strangeness degree of freedom to the models dedicated to nuclear structure and nuclear matter studies at low energy. Purpose: We want to settle the influence of strangeness on the nuclear liquid-gas phase transition. Because of the large uncertainties concerning the hyperon sector, we do not aim at a quantitative estimation of the phase diagram but rather at a qualitative description of the phenomenology, as model independent as possible. Method: We analyze the phase diagram of low density matter composed of neutrons, protons and $\Lambda$ hyperons using a Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) model. We largely explore the parameter space to pin down generic features of the phase transition, and compare the results to ab-initio quantum Monte Carlo calculations. Results: We show that the liquid-gas phase transition is only slightly quenched by the addition of hyperons. Strangeness is seen to be an order parameter of the phase transition, meaning that dilute strange matter is expected to be unstable with respect to the formation of hyper-clusters. Conclusions: More quantitative results within the RMF model need improved functionals at low density, possibly fitted to ab-initio calculations of nuclear and $\Lambda$ matter.

Flavoured aspects of the QCD thermodynamics

We discuss recent progress in lattice QCD studies on various aspects involving strange and heavy quarks. Appropriate combinations of conserved net strange and net charm fluctuations and their correlations with other conserved charges provide evidence that in the hadronic phase so far unobserved hadrons contribute to the thermodynamics and need to be included in hadron resonance gas models. In the strange sector this leads to significant reductions of the chemical freeze-out temperature of strange hadrons. We have found that a description of the thermodynamics of open strange and open charm degrees of freedom in terms of an uncorrelated hadron gas is valid only up to temperatures close to the chiral crossover temperature. This suggests that in addition to light and strange hadrons also open charm hadrons start to dissolve already close to the chiral crossover. Further indications that open charm mesons start to melt in the vicinity of Tc is obtained from an analysis of screening masses, while in the charmonium sector these screening masses show a behavior compatible with a sequential melting pattern. In the last section we discuss resent progress in extracting a transport coefficient, the heavy quark momentum diffusion coefficient, based on continuum extrapolated color-electric field correlation functions and estimate the time scale associated with the kinetic equilibration of heavy quarks. Close to Tc this suggests that charm quark kinetic equilibration appears almost as fast as that of light partons in agreement with qualitative discoveries at RHIC and LHC that charm quarks appear to flow about as effectively as light quarks.

A feasibility study of hypernuclei reconstruction at NICA/MPD

One of the main tasks of the NICA/MPD physics program is a study of the strangeness production in nuclear collisions. Heavy strange objects (including hypernuclei) could provide essential signatures of the excited and compressed baryonic matter.Study of hypernuclei is important for: understanding the strangeness degrees of freedom in hadronic systems; study of all populated regions in the three-dimensional chart of the nuclides; study of hyperon-nucleus and hyperon-hyperon interactions.The Monte Carlo simulation results presented show that the start version of the MPD detector will provide good conditions for hypernuclei reconstruction in Au+Au collisions at NICA.

Heavy baryons with strangeness in soliton models

We present some recent results from soliton model calculations for the spectrum of baryons with a single heavy quark. The model comprises chiral symmetry for light flavors and (approximate) heavy spin–flavor symmetry for the heavy quarks. We focus on flavor symmetry breaking for strangeness degrees of freedom.

Nuclear symmetry energy with strangeness in heavy-ion collisions

The role of anti-kaons in the symmetry energy to be determined in heavy-ion collisions as for instance in such observables as the $\pi^-/\pi^+$ ratio is discussed using a simple chiral Lagrangian. It is shown, with some mild assumptions, that kaons, when present in the system, can affect the EoS appreciably for both symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter. For nuclear matter with small asymmetry with which heavy-ion collisions are studied, it may be difficult to distinguish a stiff symmetry energy and the supersoft symmetry energy, even with kaons present. However the effect of kaon is found to be significant such that $\mu_n-\mu_p \neq 0$ near $x=1/2$, at which the chemical potential difference is zero without kaon amplitude. We present the argument that in order to obtain a reliably accurate equation of state (EoS) for compact-star matter, a much deeper understanding is needed on how the strangeness degrees of freedom such as kaons, hyperons etc. behave in baryonic matter in a Fermi liquid (or possibly a non-Fermi liquid) phase with potential phase changes. It is suggested that such an {\em accurate} treatment could have an important implication on possibly modified gravity.