Experimental Studies of Antikaon Mediated Bound Nuclear Systems

Recent experimental studies of the synthesis and properties of deeply bound antikaon mediated nuclear systems are reviewed. Following a brief introduction in the basic properties of the antikaon–nucleon interaction which may lead to cold and dense antikaonic nuclear systems, we review the results of very first experiments which give indications of the existence of such exotic clusters of matter. Then ongoing efforts to substantiate the early findings are presented and future experimental approaches which will allow a very detailed study of the decay modes, the sizes and density distributions of these kaonic nuclear clusters are discussed including their relevance for possible phase transitions in cold dense matter.