New insights on the hyperon puzzle from quantum Monte Carlo calculations

TL;DR

This paper uses quantum Monte Carlo methods to explore hypernuclear systems, highlighting the importance of three-body forces and the uncertainties in isospin dependence affecting neutron star models.

Contribution

It demonstrates the significance of three-body hyperon-nucleon-nucleon interactions and investigates the poorly constrained isospin dependence of the Lambda-NN force.

Findings

Three-body hyperon-nucleon-nucleon interactions are key to hyperon separation energies.

The isospin dependence of Lambda-NN force is poorly constrained by current data.

Understanding these interactions impacts neutron star structure models.

Abstract

In the last years auxiliary field diffusion Monte Carlo has been used to assess the properties of hypernuclear systems, from light- to medium-heavy hypernuclei and hyper-neutron matter. One of the main findings is the key role played by the three-body hyperon-nucleon-nucleon interaction in the determination of the hyperon separation energy of hypernuclei and as a possible solution to the hyperon puzzle. However, there are still aspects of the employed hypernuclear potential that remain to be carefully investigated. In this paper we show that the isospin dependence of the Lambda-NN force, which is crucial in determining the NS structure, is poorly constrained by the available experimental data.