Abstract
Spectroscopy of Λ hypernuclei has recently become one of the most valuable tools for the experimental investigation of strangeness nuclear physics. Following the pioneering (π+, K+) reaction spectroscopy experiments at the BNL AGS in the 1970's, excitation spectra have been measured using this reaction for a wide variety of Λ hypernuclei with the superconducting kaon spectrometer (SKS) at the KEK 12 GeV PS. More recently, Λ hypernuclear spectroscopy was carried out for the first time using the (e, e′ K+) reaction and the continuous electron beam at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). This reaction will be further explored using a new high-resolution kaon spectrometer (HKS) installed at Jefferson Lab. At the same time, precision γ-ray spectroscopy with a germanium detector array (Hyperball) has been successfully performed for p-shell Λ hypernuclei at the KEK 12 GeV PS and at the BNL AGS. Quantitative information on Λ hypernuclear structure was obtained and the strengths of the spin-dependent Λ-nucleon interaction in the p-shell region were derived. In this review article, the progress of Λ hypernuclear spectroscopy is described and future prospects are presented.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 564-653 |
Number of pages | 90 |
Journal | Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 Oct 1 |
Keywords
- (e, e K) reaction
- (π, K) reaction
- Reaction spectroscopy
- Λ hypernuclei
- γ-ray spectroscopy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics