Self-consistent description of Lambda hypernuclei in the quark-meson coupling model

The quark-meson coupling (QMC) model, which has been successfully used to describe the properties of both finite nuclei and infinite nuclear matter, is applied to a study of Lambda hypernuclei. With the assumption that the (self-consistent) exchanged scalar, and vector, mesons couple only to the u and d quarks, a very weak spin-orbit force in the Lambda-nucleus interaction is achieved automatically. This is a direct consequence of the SU(6) quark model wave function of the Lambda used in the QMC model. Possible implications and extensions of the present investigation are also discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.