In-medium nuclear interactions of low-energy hadrons

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent experimental and theoretical progress in understanding low-energy in-medium interactions of hadrons, focusing on exotic atoms, deeply bound states, and implications for nuclear matter properties.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of in-medium hadron-nucleon interactions, including new insights into exotic atoms and the potential for observing deeply bound states.

Findings

Evidence for partial restoration of chiral symmetry in dense matter

Predictions of narrow antikaon and antiproton bound states

Discussion of experimental signals and dynamical models for these states

Abstract

Experimental and theoretical developments of the last decade in the study of exotic atoms and some related low-energy reactions are reviewed, in order to provide information on the in-medium hadron-nucleon t matrix over a wide range of densities up to central nuclear densities. In particular, we review pionic deeply bound atomic states and related evidence for partial restoration of chiral symmetry in dense nuclear matter. The case for relatively narrow deeply bound atomic states for antikaons and antiprotons is made, based on the physics of strong nuclear absorption. Recent experimental suggestions for signals of antikaon-nuclear deeply bound states are reviewed, and dynamical models for calculating binding energies, widths and densities of antikaon nuclear states are discussed. Specific features of low-energy in-medium interactions of kaons, antiprotons and of Sigma hyperons are discussed, and suggestions to study experimentally Cascade atoms are reviewed.