$\eta$ and ${\eta }^{\prime }$ mesons in nuclear matter and nuclei

Abstract

We present updated and extended results for the $\eta$- and ${\eta }^{\prime }$-nucleus bound state energies, obtained by solving the Schrödinger and Klein-Gordon equations with complex optical potentials, for a wide range of nuclei. The $\eta$ and ${\eta }^{\prime }$ nuclear potentials are obtained in the local density approximation from the mass shift of these mesons in nuclear matter, which is calculated within the quark-meson coupling model. Our results show that the $\eta$ and ${\eta }^{\prime }$ mesons are expected to form mesic nuclei with all the nuclei considered. However, the signal for the formation of the $\eta$- and ${\eta }^{\prime }$-mesic nuclei may be difficult to identify experimentally due to possible large widths.

Comments: 11 pages, 4 figures, 6 tables