Recent studies of kaonic atoms, few-body kaonic quasibound states and kaonic nuclei are reviewed, with emphasis on implementing the subthreshold energy dependence of the Kbar-N interaction in chiral interaction models that are consistent with the SIDDHARTA K- hydrogen data. Remarks are made on the possible role of the p-wave Sigma(1385) resonance with respect to that of the s-wave Lambda(1405) resonance in searches for strangeness S=-1 dibaryons.
A molecule model is proposed for the description of the properties of the kaonic nuclear cluster (KNC) anti-KNN with the structure N(ant-KN)_(I = 0) and quantum numbers I(J^P) = 1/2(0^-), the large binding energy B^(\exp)_(anti-KNN) = 103(6) MeV and the width Gamma^(\exp)_(anti-KNN) = 118(13) MeV, observed recently by the DISTO Collaboration. The theoretical values of the binding energy B^(th)_(anti-KNN) = 118 MeV, the width Gamma^(th)_(anti-KNN) = 142 MeV of the KNC anti-KNN and the density n_(anti-KNN) = 2.71 n_0, where n_0= 0.17 fm^(-3) is the normal nuclear density, reproduce well the larg…
We study theoretically the kaonic atom and kaonic nucleus formations in the in--flight ($K^-,p$) reactions using the Green function method, which is suited to evaluate formation rates both of stable and unstable bound systems. We consider $^{12}$C and $^{16}$O as the targets and calculate the spectra of the ($K^-,p$) reactions. We conclude that a no peak structure due to kaonic nucleus formation is expected in the reaction spectra calculated with the chiral unitary kaon--nucleus optical potential. In the spectra with the phenomenological deep kaon--nucleus potential, we may have possibilities …
Mini-proceedings of the ECT* Workshop, Hadronic Atoms and Kaonic Nuclei - Solved Puzzles, Open Problems and Future Challenges in Theory and Experiment, 12-16 October 2009
The formation spectra of model KbarN and KbarNN systems formed by (K-, n) reactions are investigated in order to obtain a theoretical basis for a proper interpretation of experimental data concerning kaonic nuclear quasi-bound states. It has been clarified that the experimentally observable kaonic nuclear state K-pp should be regarded as the decaying state introduced by Kapur-Peierls, which is different from the pole state solution of the Faddeev equation.
We study the kaonic atom and kaonic nucleus formation by the in-flight ($K^-, p$) reactions for C, O, Si and Ca target cases theoretically. Deeply bound kaonic atoms were predicted to exist as quasi-stable states and were expected to be observed in some proper experimental methods. Kaonic nuclear states are also expected to exist with large decay widths. We evaluate the formation cross sections of the kaonic atoms and kaonic nuclei using an effective number approach. We show that the indications of the kaonic bound states can be observed in the outgoing proton energy spectra.
We considered the kaon absorption from atomic states into nucleus. We found that the nuclear density probed by the atomic kaon significantly depends on the kaon orbit. Then, we reexamined the meanings of the observed strengths of one-body and two-body kaon absorption, and investigated the effects to the formation spectra of kaon bound states by in-flight ($K^-,p$) reactions. As a natural consequence, if the atomic kaon probes the smaller nuclear density, the ratio of the two-body absorption at nuclear center is larger than the observed value, and the depth of the imaginary potential is deeper …
The sensitive correlations between the low-density halo structure and the high-density properties of the nuclear equation of state (EOS) are constructed in light kaonic nuclei with the relativistic mean-field theory. More specifically, the $1p_{1/2}$ halo spreads out linearly with increasing the pressure and sound velocity square at supra-normal densities and quadratically with decreasing the incompressibility at saturation density. These results suggest that the novel halo in light kaonic nuclei can serve as a sensitive indicator of the nuclear EOS of symmetric matter at supra-normal densitie…
We study theoretically the (K^-,N) reactions for the formation of the deeply bound kaonic atoms, which were predicted to be quasi--stable with narrow widths, using the Green function method. We consider various cases with different target nuclei and energies systematically and find the clear signals in the theoretical spectra for all cases considered in this article. The signals show very interesting structures, such as the $RESONANCE DIP$ instead of the resonance peak. We discuss the origins of the interesting structures and possibilities to get new information on the existence of the kaonic …
Using separable potentials for $\bar{K}N-πΣ$ interaction, we investigated four-body kaonic nuclear systems such as $K^{-}ppn$ and $K^{-}K^{-}pp$, with the Faddeev AGS method in the momentum representation. The Faddeev calculations are based on the quasi-particle method and the method of the energy dependent pole expansion was used to obtain the separable representation for the integral kernels in the three- and four-body equations. Different types of $\bar{K}N-πΣ$ potentials based on phenomenological and chiral SU(3) approach are used and it was shown that the kaonic nuclear systems under cons…
A microscopic kaonic-atom optical potential $V^{(1)}_{K^-}$ is constructed, using the Ikeda-Hyodo-Weise NLO chiral $K^-N$ subthreshold scattering amplitudes constrained by the kaonic hydrogen SIDDHARTA measurement, and incorporating Pauli correlations within the Waas-Rho-Weise generalization of the Ericson-Ericson multiple-scattering approach. Good fits to kaonic atom data over the entire periodic table require additionally sizable $K^-NN$--motivated absorptive and dispersive phenomenological terms, in agreement with our former analysis based on a post-SIDDHARTA in-medium chirally-inspired NLO…
It is very difficult for any nuclear model to pin down the saturation property and high-density equation of state (EOS) simultaneously because of high nonlinearity of the nuclear many-body problem. In this work, we propose, for the first time, to use the special property of light kaonic nuclei to characterize the relation between saturation property and high-density EOS. With a series of relativistic mean-field models, this special property is found to be the level inversion between orbitals $2S_{1/2}$ and $1D_{5/2}$ in light kaonic nuclei. This level inversion can serve as a theoretical labor…
We calculate the rates of the radiative transitions np -> 1s + gamma in kaonic hydrogen and kaonic deuterium, induced by strong low-energy interactions and enhanced by Coulomb interactions. The obtained results should be taken into account for the theoretical analysis of the experimental data on the X-ray spectra and yields in kaonic atoms.
On-shell kaon-nucleon scattering, kaonic atom and kaon condensation are treated on the same footing by means of a chiral perturbation expansion to the next-to-next-to-leading order (``N$^2$LO"). Constraining the low-energy constants in the chiral Lagrangian by on-shell $KN$ scattering lengths and kaonic atom data, the off-shell s-wave scattering amplitude up to one-loop order corresponding to N$^2$LO and the critical density of kaon condensation up to in-medium two-loop order are computed. The effects on kaon-proton scattering of the quasi-bound $Λ(1405)$ and on kaonic atoms and kaon condensat…
Lambda*=Lambda(1405) plays an essential role in forming kaonic nuclear clusters (KNC). The simplest KNC, K-pp, has the structure Lambda*p=(K-p){I=0}p, where a real kaon migrates between two nucleons, mediating super-strong Lambda*-p$ attraction. Production data of K-pp have been accumulated by DISTO, J-PARC E27 and J-PARC E15 experiments. In the case of K-K-pp, the attractive covalent bond of Lambda*Lambda* is doubly enhanced compared to the Lambda*-p one. As a consequence, a m-th Lambda* multiplet, (Lambda*)m, with m(m-1)/2 bonds becomes more stable than its corresponding neutron aggregate, (…
Recent studies of strong interaction effects in kaonic atoms suggest that analysing so-called `lower' and `upper' levels in the same atom could separate one-nucleon absorption from multinucleon processes. The present work examines the feasibility of direct measurements of upper level widths in addition to lower level widths in future experiments, using superconducting microcalorimeter detectors. About ten elements are identified as possible candidates for such experiments, all of medium-weight and heavy nuclei. New experiments focused on achieving good accuracy for widths of such pairs of leve…
We put forward a method for determination of the kaon radius from the spectra of kaonic atoms. We analyze the few lowest transitions and their sensitivity to the size of the kaon for ions in the nuclear charge range Z = 1 - 100, taking into account finite-nuclear-size, finite-kaon-size, recoil and leading-order quantum-electrodynamic effects. Additionally, the opportunities of extracting the kaon mass and nuclear radii are demonstrated by examining the sensitivity of the transition energies in kaonic atoms.
K meson-deuteron scattering lengths, atomic level shifts and widths are calculated. These quantities depend on controversial kaon-nucleon scattering amplitudes extrapolated by few MeV below the $KN$ threshold. Experimental consequences of several $KN$ interaction models are studied.
We critically revise the recent claims of narrow deeply bound kaonic states and show that at present there is no convincing experimental evidence for their existence. In particular, we discuss in details the claim of K- pp deeply bound state associated to a peak seen in the Lambda p invariant mass spectrum from K- nuclear absorption reactions by the FINUDA collaboration. An explicit theoretical simulation shows that the peak is simply generated from a two-nucleon absorption process, like K- pp --> Lambda p, followed by final-state interactions of the produced particles with the residual nucleu…
We present our study of kaonic three-body $\overset{\_}{K}NN$, $\overset{\_}{K}\overset{\_}{K}N$ and $KK\overset{\_}{K}$ and four-body $\overset{\_}{K}% NNN $, $\ $and $\overset{\_}{K}\overset{\_}{K}NN$ clusters within the framework of a potential model using the method of hyperspherical functions in momentum representation. To perform a numerical calculations for the bound state energy of the light kaonic system, we use a set of different potentials for the nucleon-nucleon and $\overset{\_}{K}N$ interactions, as well as for the kaon-kaon interaction. The calculations show that a quasibound st…
A microscopic optical potential based on a chiral model is used as a starting point for studying kaonic atoms levels. We add to this potential a phenomenological part fitted to the experimentally known shifts and widths of kaonic levels. This fitted potential is used to predict deeply bound atomic levels, as well as nuclear levels. Comparison with the predictions of other optical models found in the literature is done. Also the effects on the kaonic atoms levels of certain known non-local contributions to the optical potential are also analyzed.
Exotic deuterium and helium are discussed. The S, P and D levels of antiprotonic and kaonic atoms are calculated. Absorptive, subthreshold antiproton-nucleon amplitudes are extracted from experimental data and compared to model calculations. The existence of a quasi-bound state in the antiproton-nucleon system is indicated. In the kaonic atoms some effects of the Sigma(1385) resonance are evaluated.
Recent progress and open problems in kaonic atom physics are presented. A connection between phenomenological deep potentials and the underlying $K^-N$ interaction is established as well as the need for a theory for multinucleon absorption of kaons. $K^-$ absorption at rest to specific $Λ$ hypernuclei states is briefly discussed.
Recent optical-potential studies of the phenomenology of kaonic atoms are reviewed. It is shown that the data can be fitted by a complex optical potential with either a relatively shallow attractive component (about -50 MeV at nuclear-matter density), as suggested by a self consistent application of chirally motivated coupled-channels models, or a relatively deep attractive component (about -180 MeV at nuclear-matter density) as suggested by a mean-field extrapolation of a phenomenological low-density expansion. Both classes of these optical potentials, due to their strongly absorptive compone…
As the experimental data from kaonic atoms and $K^{-}N$ scatterings imply that the $K^{-}$-nucleon interaction is strongly attractive at saturation density, there is a possibility to form $K^{-}$-nuclear bound states or kaonic nuclei. In this work, we investigate the ground-state properties of the light kaonic nuclei with the relativistic mean field theory. It is found that the strong attraction between $K^{-}$ and nucleons reshapes the scalar and vector meson fields, leading to the remarkable enhancement of the nuclear density in the interior of light kaonic nuclei and the manifest shift of t…
We review recent work on various topics related to the modification of kaon properties in nuclei. After a brief exposition of the kaon-nucleon and kaon-nucleus interaction, results from the application to kaonic atoms, renormalization of the f0 and a0 scalar resonances in nuclei and phi decay in the nucleus are shown.
Kaonic hydrogen is studied with various realistic potentials in an accurate numerical approach based on Sturmian functions. The kaon-proton scattering length extracted from the 1s energy shift of the kaonic hydrogen by applying the Deser-Trueman formula is severely inconsistent with the one derived by directly solving the scattering Schoedinger equation. We pay special attention to the recent measurement of the energy shift and decay width of the 1s kaonic hydrogen state by the DEAR Collaboration. After taking into account the large discrepancy between the extracted and directly-evaluated scat…
Accuracy of "corrected Deser" and "summed up Deser" formulas was checked for the $K^- p$ and $K^- d$ systems. It was found that the last one is much more accurate and should be used for connection the $1s$ level shift to the corresponding scattering length.
The strength of the low energy K^- nucleus real potential has recently received renewed attention in view of experimental evidence for the possible existence of strongly bound K^- states. Previous fits to kaonic atom data led to either 'shallow' or to 'deep' potentials, where only the former are in agreement with chiral approaches but only the latter can produce strongly bound states. Here we explore the uncertainties of the K^- nucleus optical potentials, obtained from fits to kaonic atom data, using the functional derivatives of the best-fit chi^2 values with respect to the potential. We fin…
Kaon production and kaon flow in heavy-ion collisions at SIS energies are analyzed using the relativistic transport model. The experimental data are found to be consistent with the scenario that kaon scalar (before being cut down by the range term) and vector mean field potentials are about 1/3 of that of nucleons in the Walecka model. This also explains the strong attraction found for $K^-$ in kaonic atoms, and gives information on the possibility of $K^-$ condensation in dense matter.
We have studied the structure of K- pp comprehensively by solving this three-body system in a variational method, starting from the Ansatz that the Lambda(1405) resonance (~ Lambda*) is a K-p bound state. The structure of K-pp reveals a molecular feature, namely, the K- in Lambda* as an "atomic center" plays a key role in producing strong covalent bonding with the other proton. We point out that strongly bound Kbar nuclear systems are formed by ``super strong" nuclear force due to migrating real bosonic particles Kbar a la Heitler-London-Heisenberg, whereas the normal nuclear force is caused b…
Recent work on the connection between in-medium subthreshold $K^-N$ amplitudes and kaonic atom potentials is updated by using a next to leading order chirally motivated coupled channel separable interaction model that reproduces $\bar KN$ observables at low energies, including the very recent SIDDHARTA results for the atomic $K^-$-hydrogen $1s$ level shift and width. The corresponding $K^-$-nucleus potential is evaluated self-consistently within a single-nucleon approach and is critically reviewed with respect to empirical features of phenomenological optical potentials. The need to supplement…
A phenomenological model, proposed for the Kaonic Nuclear Cluster (KNC) K^-pp, is applied to the theoretical analysis of the KNC K^-pnn (or S^0). The theoretical values of the binding energy and the width are equal to epsilon_(S^0) = - 197 MeV and Gamma_(S^0) = 16 MeV. They agree well with the experimental data epsilon^(exp)_(S^0) = - 194.0(+ 1.5/- 4.4) MeV and Gamma^(exp)_(S^0) < 21 MeV} (PLB 597, 263 (2004)) and the theoretical values epsilon_(S^0) = - 191 MeV and Gamma_(S^0) = 13 MeV, obtained by Akaishi and Yamazaki within the potential model approach.
A phenomenological model is proposed for the analysis of the properties of the Kaonic Nuclear Cluster (KNC) Kpp in its ground state. Inside the KNC K^-pp we describe the relative motion of the protons in the pp pair and the motion of the K^- meson relative to the pp pair in terms of wave functions of 3-dimensional harmonic oscillators. The interaction strength is parameterised in our model by the frequency of the longitudinal oscillation of the K^- meson relative to the pp pair. This parameter was determined with the binding energy and width of the strange baryon Lambda(1405) by assuming that …
The role played by subthreshold meson-baryon dynamics is demonstrated in kaonic-atom, Kbar-nuclear and eta-nuclear bound-state calculations within in-medium models of Kbar-N and eta-N interactions. New analyses of kaonic atom data reveal appreciable multi-nucleon contributions. Calculations of eta-nuclear bound states show, in particular, that the eta-N scattering length is not a useful indicator of whether or not eta mesons bind in nuclei nor of the widths anticipated for such states.
The strong interaction between an antikaon and a nucleon is at the origin of various interesting phenomena in kaon-nuclear systems. In particular, the interaction in the isospin $I=0$ channel is sufficiently attractive to generate a quasi-bound state, the $Λ(1405)$ resonance, below the $\bar{K}N$ threshold. Based on this picture, it may be expected that the $\bar{K}N$ interaction also generates quasi-bound states in kaon-nuclear systems, sometimes called kaonic nuclei. At the same time, the $\bar{K}N$ quasi-bound picture of the $Λ(1405)$ is also related to the discussion of hadronic molecules …
We present our latest calculations of $K^-$-nuclear quasi-bound states using a self-consistent scheme for constructing $K^-$-nuclear potentials from various subthreshold chirally inspired $\bar{K}N$ scattering amplitudes. We consider in-medium versions of the scattering amplitudes taking into account Pauli blocking in the intermediate states. The resulting $K^-$ binding energies as well as the widths exhibit the same A dependence, however, the binding energies strongly depend on the model used.
We performed self-consistent calculations of $K^-$-nuclear quasi-bound states using a single-nucleon $K^-$ optical potential derived from chiral meson-baryon coupled-channel interaction models, supplemented by a phenomenological $K^-$ multinucleon potential introduced recently to achieve good fits to kaonic atom data [1]. Our calculations show that the effect of $K^-$ multinucleon interactions on $K^-$ widths in nuclei is decisive. The resulting widths are considerably larger than corresponding binding energies. Moreover, when the density dependence of the $K^-$-multinucleon interactions deriv…
$K^-$ atomic data are used to test several models of the $K^-$ nucleus interaction. The t($ρ$)$ρ$ optical potential, due to coupled channel models incorporating the $Λ$(1405) dynamics, fails to reproduce these data. A standard relativistic mean field (RMF) potential, disregarding the $Λ$(1405) dynamics at low densities, also fails. The only successful model is a hybrid of a theoretically motivated RMF approach in the nuclear interior and a completely phenomenological density dependent potential, which respects the low density theorem in the nuclear surface region. This best-fit $K^-$ optical p…
Strong interaction energy shifts and widths in kaonic atoms are calculated for the first time using microscopic $K^- N$ + $K^- NN$ potentials derived from $K^- N$ scattering amplitudes constructed within SU(3) chiral coupled-channels models of meson-baryon interactions. The in-medium modifications of the free-space amplitudes due to the Pauli correlations are taken into account. The $K^-N+K^-NN$ potentials evaluated for 23 nuclear species are confronted with kaonic atoms data. The description of the data significantly improves when the $K^-NN$ absorption is included. To get $χ^2$ as low as for…
The $K^-$-nucleus optical potential is revisited to investigate its global feature phenomenologically. It is a puzzle that the energy shift is found to be repulsive in all of the observed kaonic atom, although the $K^-N$ interaction is known to be so attractive as to form the $Λ(1405)$ resonance. To solve this puzzle, we examine the $K^-$ optical potential in the linear density approximation and determine the potential parameters of each kaonic atom so as to reproduce the observed energy shift and absorption width. We find two types of the potentials. One potential has a so large real part as …
A report contains a review of recent theoretical investigations on kaonic atoms carried out at Stefan Meyer Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. We discuss (1) a phenomenological quantum field theoretic model for bar-K N interactions at threshold of the reactions K^-p -> K^-p, K^-n -> K^-n and K^-d ->K^-d, and (2) the energy level displacements of the ground and nP excited states of kaonic hydrogen, (3) the contribution of the sigma-term to the shift of the energy level of the ground state of kaonic hydrogen, (4) the isospin-breaking and dispersive corrections to the energy level dis…
Using a microscopic antikaon-nucleus optical potential recently developed by Ramos and Oset (nucl-th/9906016, in print in Nuclear Physics A) from a chiral model, we calculate strong interaction shifts and widths for $K^-$ atoms. This purely theoretical potential gives an acceptable description of the measured data ($χ^2/{\rm num.data}= 3.8$), though it turns out to be less attractive than what can be inferred from the existing kaon atomic data. We also use a modified potential, obtained by adding to the latter theoretical one a s-wave term which is fitted to known experimental kaonic data ($χ^…
Effective nuclear densities probed by kaon- and anti-kaon-nucleus systems are studied theoretically both for bound and low energy scattering states. As for the anti-kaon bound states, we investigate kaonic atoms. We find that the effective density depends on the atomic states significantly and we have the possibility to obtain the anti-kaon properties at various nuclear densities by observing the several kaonic atom states. We also find the energy dependence of the probed density by kaon and anti-kaon scattering states. We find that the study of the effective nuclear density will help to find …
Six widely different subthreshold $K^- N$ scattering amplitudes obtained in SU(3) chiral-model EFT approaches by fitting to low-energy and threshold data are employed in optical-potential studies of kaonic atoms. Phenomenological terms representing $K^-$ multinucleon interactions are added to the EFT inspired single-nucleon part of the $K^-$-nucleus optical potential in order to obtain good fits to kaonic-atom strong-interaction level shifts and widths across the periodic table. Introducing as a further constraint the fractions of single-nucleon $K^-$ absorption at rest from old bubble-chamber…
Using a phenomenological KN potential which reproduces $Λ$(1405) as an I=0 bound state of KN, we investigated deeply bound kaonic nuclei, ppnK$^-$ and $^8$BeK$^-$, with the method of Antisymmetrized Molecular Dynamics. Our calculations show that strongly bound kaonic nuclear systems with unusual exotic structures are formed around the K$^-$, which attracts the surrounding nucleons to an extremely high-density assembly and induces a proton-neutron separation, ``isovector deformation''.
Correct treatment of subthreshold Kbar-N dynamics is mandatory in kaonic-atom and Kbar-nuclear bound-state calculations, as demonstrated by using in-medium chirally-based models of Kbar-N interactions. Recent studies of kaonic-atom data reveal appreciable multi-nucleon contributions. Kbar-nuclear widths larger than 50 MeV are anticipated.
We analyse the properties of the kaonic nuclear cluster (KNC) anti-KNN with the structure Nx(anti-KN)_(I = 0), having the quantum numbers I(J^P) = 1/2(0^-), and treated as a quasi-bound hadronic molecule state. We describe the properties of the hadronic molecule, or the KNC Nx(anti-KN)_(I = 0), in terms of vibrational degrees of freedom with oscillator wave functions and chiral dynamics. These wave functions, having the meaning of trial wave functions of variational calculations, are parameterised by the frequency of oscillations of the (anti-KN)_(I = 0) pair, which is fixed in terms of the bi…
In this talk I make a review on the theoretical and experimental situation around the deeply bound kaon clusters, the possible bound kaonic states of nuclear, rather than atomic nature. At the same time I discuss novel developments around other kind of bound kaon clusters, which include states of two mesons and one baryon, with either one or two kaons, and states of a vector meson and two kaons, which explain naturally the observed properties of the X(2175) and Y(4260) resonances.
A self consistent scheme for constructing K^- nuclear optical potentials from subthreshold in-medium Kbar-N s-wave scattering amplitudes is presented and applied to analysis of kaonic atoms data and to calculations of K^- quasibound nuclear states. The amplitudes are taken from a chirally motivated meson-baryon coupled-channel model, both at the Tomozawa-Weinberg leading order and at the next to leading order. Typical kaonic atoms potentials are characterized by a real part -Re V(K^-;chiral)=(85+/-5) MeV at nuclear matter density, in contrast to half this depth obtained in some derivations bas…
$K^-$ optical potentials relevant to calculations of $K^-$ nuclear quasi-bound states were developed within several chiral meson-baryon coupled-channel interaction models. The applied models yield quite different $K^-$ binding energies and widths. Then, the $K^-$ multinucleon interactions were incorporated by a phenomenological optical potential fitted recently to kaonic atom data. Though the applied $K^-$ interaction models differ significantly in the $K^-N$ subthreshold region, our self-consistent calculations of kaonic nuclei across the periodic table lead to conclusions valid quite general…
Motivated by the precise measurement of the $1S$ level shift of kaonic hydrogen, we perform accurate three-body calculations for the spectrum of kaonic deuterium using a realistic antikaon-nucleon ($KN$) interaction. In order to describe both short- and long-range behavior of the kaonic atomic states, we solve the three-body Schrödinger equation with a superposition of a large number of correlated Gaussian basis functions covering distances up to several hundreds of fm. Transition energies between $1S$, $2P$ and $2S$ states are determined with high precision. The complex energy shift of the $1…
We study theoretically the in-flight ($K^-,N$) reactions for the formation of light kaonic nuclear systems to get deeper physical insights on the expected spectra, and to investigate the experimental feasibility of the reaction at new facilities like J-PARC. We show the expected spectra for the formation of the $K^-pp, K^-pn$, $K^-nn$ and $K^-$-$^{11}$B systems which are accessible by the ($K^-,N$) experiments. By considering the conversion part of the Green's function, we can show the missing mass spectra of the ($K^-,N$) reactions coincidence with the particle emissions due to ${\bar K}$ abs…
$\bar K$-nuclear bound systems, kaonic nuclei, have been widely discussed as products of the strongly attractive $\bar K N$ interaction in $I = 0$ channels. Recently, we demonstrated that kaonic nuclei can be produced via in-flight $(K^-,N)$ reactions using the low-momentum DC kaon beam at the J-PARC E15 experiment. We observed the simplest kaonic nuclei, $K^-pp$, having a much deeper binding energy than normal nuclei. For further studies, we have proposed a series of experimental programs for the systematic investigation of light kaonic nuclei, from $\bar K N$ ($Λ(1405)$) to $\bar K NNNN$. In…
The state of the art in the study of pionic, kaonic and Sigmionic atoms, along with the in-medium nuclear interactions deduced for these hadrons, is reviewed. A special emphasis is placed on recent developments in antikaon-nuclear physics, where a strongly attractive density dependent antikaon-nuclear potential of order 150-200 MeV in nuclear matter emerges by fitting K^- atom data. This has interesting repercussions on antikaon quasibound nuclear states, on the composition of strange hadronic matter and on kaon condensation in self bound hadronic systems.
New calculations of the quasi-bound state positions in $K^{-}K^{-}pp$ kaonic nuclear cluster are performed using non-relativistic four-body Faddeev-type equations in AGS form. The corresponding separable approximation for the integral kernels in the three- and four-body kaonic clusters is obtained by using the Hilbert-Schmidt expansion procedure. Different phenomenological models of $\bar{K}N-πΣ$ potentials with one- and two-pole structure of $Λ$(1405) resonance and separable potential models for $\bar{K}$-$\bar{K}$ and nucleon-nucleon interactions, are used. The dependence of the resulting fo…
Nuclear system with antikaons, so-called kaonic nuclei, has been a longstanding issue in strange nuclear physics and hadron physics, because they might have exotic nature; In particular, they could be a doorway to the dense matter due to the strong attraction between antikaon and nucleon. Among kaonic nuclei, the three-body system composed of two protons and a single $K^-$ meson, $K^-pp$, is the most essential. In this article, we will report on the recent situation of $K^-pp$ studies in both theoretical and experimental sides. Afterwards, we will explain our latest study of the $K^-pp$ with a…
A new fit of a chirally motivated coupled-channels model for meson-baryon interactions is presented including the recent SIDDHARTA data on the 1s level characteristics of kaonic hydrogen. The kaon-nucleon amplitudes generated by the model are fully consistent with our earlier studies. We argue that a sharp increase of the real part of the in-medium $K^{-}p$ amplitude at subthreshold energies provides a link between the shallow $\bar{K}$-nuclear optical potentials obtained microscopically from threshold $\bar{K}N$ interactions and the phenomenological deep ones deduced from kaonic atoms data. T…
