In-Medium Pion Valence Distributions in a Light-Front Model

TL;DR

This paper investigates how pion valence distributions change in nuclear medium versus vacuum using a light-front model, revealing significant modifications at normal nuclear density due to decay constant reduction.

Contribution

It introduces a combined approach using a light-front constituent quark model and quark-meson coupling model to study in-medium pion properties.

Findings

In-medium pion valence distribution is substantially modified.

Pion decay constant decreases in nuclear medium.

Wave function changes significantly at normal nuclear density.

Abstract

Pion valence distributions in nuclear medium and vacuum are studied in a light-front constituent quark model. The in-medium input for studying the pion properties is calculated by the quark-meson coupling model. We find that the in-medium pion valence distribution, as well as the in-medium pion valence wave function, are substantially modified at normal nuclear matter density, due to the reduction in the pion decay constant.