Widths of K-nuclear deeply bound states in a dynamical model

The relativistic mean field (RMF) model is applied to a system of nucleons and a (K) over bar meson, interacting via scalar and vector boson fields. The model incorporates the standard RMF phenomenology for bound nucleons and, for the (K) over bar meson, it relates to low-energy (K) over barN and K- atom phenomenology. Deeply bound (K) over bar nuclear states are generated dynamically across the periodic table and are exhibited for C-12 and O-16 over a wide range of binding energies. Substantial polarization of the core nucleus is found for these light nuclei. Absorption modes are also included dynamically, considering explicitly both the resulting compressed nuclear density and the reduced phase space for (K) over bar absorption from deeply bound states. The behavior of the calculated width as function of the (K) over bar binding energy is studied in order to explore limits on the possible existence of narrow (K) over bar nuclear states. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.