Nucleon–nucleon effective potential in dense matter including rho-meson exchange

Abstract

We obtain the RPA summed one-meson exchange potential between nucleons in symmetric nuclear matter at zero temperature, from a model which includes ρ, σ, ω and π mesons. The behavior of rho mesons inside the medium is first discussed using different schemes to extract a finite contribution from the vacuum polarization. These schemes give qualitatively different results for the in-medium rho mass. The results are discussed in connection with the non-renormalizability of the model. We next study the modified potential as density increases. In the intermediate distance range, it is qualitatively modified by matter and vacuum effects. In the long-distance range (r > 2 fm), one observes the presence of oscillations, which are not present in free-space. Features on this distance range are insensitive to the renormalization scheme.