In-medium $\Lambda N$ interactions with leading order covariant chiral hyperon/nucleon-nucleon forces

TL;DR

This paper investigates in-medium Lambda-Nucleon interactions using relativistic chiral forces within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock framework, successfully matching experimental data with a first-order approach, offering new insights for hypernuclear physics.

Contribution

First application of leading-order covariant chiral hyperon/nucleon-nucleon forces in a relativistic framework to describe in-medium Lambda-Nucleon interactions.

Findings

Achieves consistent description of experimental cross-sections.

Reproduces empirical Lambda single-particle potential.

Contrasts with non-relativistic approaches requiring higher-order forces.

Abstract

In-medium $\Lambda N$ interactions are crucial in hypernuclei and neutron star physics. In this work, we study the in-medium $\Lambda N$ interaction within the relativistic Brueckner-Hartree-Fock (RBHF) framework, employing the leading-order covariant chiral hyperon/nucleon-nucleon forces for the first time. We demonstrate that a consistent description of both the experimental cross-section data and the `empirical value' of the $\Lambda$ single-particle potential can be achieved. This contrasts with the majority of studies in the non-relativistic framework, where higher-order two-body chiral forces are typically required. This study offers a new perspective on the in-medium $\Lambda N$ interactions, urgently needed in relativistic \textit{ab initio} hypernuclear physics studies.