In-medium properties of a $ΞN$ interaction derived from chiral effective field theory

Abstract

The in-medium properties of a baryon-baryon interaction for the strangeness $S=-2$ sector derived within chiral effective field theory up to next-to-leading order are investigated. The considered $ΞN$ interaction is in line with available empirical constraints on the $ΛΛ$ $S$-wave scattering length and on $ΞN$ elastic and inelastic cross sections. In particular, there are no near-threshold bound states in the $ΞN$ system. A conventional $G$-matrix calculation for this interaction is performed and reveals that the single-particle potential of the $Ξ$-hyperon in nuclear matter is moderately attractive as suggested by recent experimental evidence for the existence of $Ξ$-hypernuclei.

9 pages, 3 figures