Chiral Symmetry In Nuclear Physics

Abstract

How chiral symmetry -- which is a basic ingredient of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) for light-quark hadrons -- enters and plays an eminent role in nuclear physics is discussed. This is done in two steps. In the first step, I introduce the notion of the Cheshire Cat Principle which describes how a strong-interaction phenomenon can be described in various different languages. In the second step, I treat two cases of widely different density regimes. The first case deals with formulating nuclear physics of {\it dilute} nuclear systems with a focus on both bound and scattering processes in two-nucleon systems in terms of effective field theories (EFT), e.g., in the framework of chiral perturbation theory. The second case requires formulating effective field theories for {\it dense} hadronic matter such as heavy nuclei and nuclear matter under normal as well as extreme conditions expected to be encountered in compact stars and in heavy-ion collisions at relativistic energy. The first case is rigorously formulated but the second relies on several assumptions that appear to be reasonable but need ultimately to be justified. The Cheshire Cat Principle is proposed to play an essential role in lending support to the latter development.