Correlated model for L hypernuclei

We study the properties of hypernuclei containing one L hyperon in the framework of the correlated basis function theory with Jastrow correlations. Fermi hypernetted chain integral equations are derived and used to evaluate energies and one-body densities of L hypernuclei having a doubly closed shell nucleonic core in the j j coupling scheme, from carbon to lead. We also study hypernuclei having the least bound neutron substituted by the L particle. The semirealistic Afnan and Tang nucleon-nucleon potential and Bodmer and Usmani L-nucleon potential are adopted. The effect of many-body forces are considered by means either of a threebody L-nucleon-nucleon potential of the Argonne type or of a density-dependent modification of the L-nucleon interaction, fitted to reproduce the L binding energy in nuclear matter. While Jastrow correlations underestimate the attractive contribution of the three-body L interaction, the density-dependent potential provides a good description of the L binding energies over all the nuclear masses range, in spite of the relative simplicity of the model.