Moments of $\phi$ meson spectral functions in vacuum and nuclear matter

Understand

Moments of the $\phi$ meson spectral function in vacuum and in nuclear matter are analyzed, combining a model based on chiral SU(3) effective field theory (with kaonic degrees of freedom) and finite-energy QCD sum rules.

• For the vacuum we show that the spectral density is strongly constrained by a recent accurate measurement of the $e^+ e^- \to K^+ K^-$ cross section.
• In nuclear matter the $\phi$ spectrum is modified by interactions of the decay kaons with the surrounding nuclear medium, leading to a significant broadening and an asymmetric deformation of the $\phi$ meson peak.
• We demonstrate that both in vacuum and nuclear matter, the first two moments of the spectral function are compatible with finite-energy QCD sum rules.