Recent Progress in Quantum Hadrodynamics

TLDR

Quantum hadrodynamics models the nuclear many‑body problem as a relativistic system of baryons and mesons, and recent work has expanded it to nuclear structure, electroweak interactions, transport theory, extreme‑condition matter, and loop‑diagram evaluations. The authors motivate the use of QHD by emphasizing its utility and the necessity of a local, Lorentz‑invariant Lagrangian density. They present calculations of nuclear matter and finite nuclei using both renormalizable and nonrenormalizable effective QHD models, linking these to relativistic mean‑field theory and more sophisticated treatments.

Abstract

Quantum hadrodynamics (QHD) is a framework for describing the nuclear many-body problem as a relativistic system of baryons and mesons. Motivation is given for the utility of such an approach and for the importance of basing it on a local, Lorentz-invariant lagrangian density. Calculations of nuclear matter and finite nuclei in both renormalizable and nonrenormalizable, effective QHD models are discussed. Connections are made between the effective and renormalizable models, as well as between relativistic mean-field theory and more sophisticated treatments. Recent work in QHD involving nuclear structure, electroweak interactions in nuclei, relativistic transport theory, nuclear matter under extreme conditions, and the evaluation of loop diagrams is reviewed.