$K^-$- nuclear states: Binding energies and widths

Abstract: $K^-$ optical potentials relevant to calculations of $K^-$ nuclear quasi-bound states were developed within several chiral meson-baryon coupled-channel interaction models. The applied models yield quite different $K^-$ binding energies and widths. Then, the $K^-$ multinucleon interactions were incorporated by a phenomenological optical potential fitted recently to kaonic atom data. Though the applied $K^-$ interaction models differ significantly in the $K^-N$ subthreshold region, our self-consistent calculations of kaonic nuclei across the periodic table lead to conclusions valid quite generally. Due to $K^-$ multinucleon absorption in the nuclear medium the calculated widths of $K^-$ nuclear states are sizable, $\Gamma_{K^-} \geq 90$ MeV, and exceed substantially their binding energies in all considered nuclei.