MULTI-(K)over-bar (HYPER)NUCLEI AND KAON CONDENSATION

We report on recent relativistic mean-field calculations of multi-(K) over bar nuclei(1,2) which were performed fully and self-consistently across the periodic table. The (K) over bar separation energy B-(K) over bar as well as the nuclear and (K) over bar -meson densities were found to saturate with the number of antikaons in the nuclear medium. Saturation appears robust against a wide range of variations, including the nuclear model used and the type of boson fields mediating the strong interactions. In addition, we have explored properties of kaonic hypernuclei strange systems made of nucleons, hyperons and K- mesons. We observed saturation also in these objects. Since the (K) over bar separation energy B-(K) over bar does not exceed 200 MeV, multi-(K) over bar nuclei lie energetically well above multi-hyperonic nuclei and it is unlikely that kaon condensation could occur in strong-interaction self-bound hadronic matter.