Core polarization, Brown-Rho scaling and a memory of Gerry's Princeton years

TL;DR

This paper reviews the history and recent developments in core polarization and Brown-Rho scaling, highlighting their significance in nuclear physics and connections to phenomena like carbon-14 beta decay.

Contribution

It introduces a new Brown-Rho scaling model based on a Skyrmion half-Skyrmion two-phase framework, advancing understanding of these phenomena.

Findings

Connection of BR scaling to carbon-14 beta decay

Development of a new BR scaling model

Historical insights into core polarization and BR scaling

Abstract

Core-polarization (CP) and Brown-Rho (BR) scaling were among Gerry's most favorite topics. In this contribution, we will discuss some of the early history as well as more recent work associated with these two fascinating phenomena. I (TTSK) will begin with some recollections of Princeton, where I met Gerry for the first time in 1964 and worked as his postdoc. Core polarization was in fact the first topic he assigned to me. JWH started working with Gerry at Stony Brook from 2003 and was Gerry's last student in nuclear physics. We three had teamed up well, working closely on both CP and BR scaling, particularly on the latter's connection to the anomalously-long beta-decay lifetime of carbon-14. We shall here briefly review these topics, including a recently developed new Brown-Rho scaling based on a Skyrmion half-Skyrmion two-phase model.