On pion condensation in atomic nuclei

Abstract

The thresholds for pion condensation in terms of the nucleon-nucleon interaction amplitude are calculated for both neutral and charged channels in the spherical nuclei from ¹⁶O to ²⁹⁸114. In light nuclei, where the repulsive constant g^- decreases (i.e. when the density increases), the mode J^pi =0^- is the first to become unstable. In heavy nuclei, the transition into a pion-condensed state is similar to that in infinite systems, but there are differences due to shell effects.