Strangeness in Nuclei and Neutron Stars

Understand

We review the present status of the experimental and theoretical developments in the field of strangeness in nuclei and neutron stars.

• We start by discussing the $\bar K N$ interaction, that is governed by the presence of the $\Lambda(1405)$.
• We continue by showing the two-pole nature of the $\Lambda(1405)$, and the production mechanisms in photon-, pion-, kaon-induced reactions as well as proton-proton collisions, while discussing the formation of $\bar K NN$ bound states.
• We then move to the theoretical and experimental analysis of the properties of kaons and antikaons in dense nuclear matter, paying a special attention to kaonic atoms and the analysis of strangeness creation and propagation in nuclear collisions.