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# DESY 03-019MS-TP-03-03 Partially quenched chiral perturbation theory and numerical simulations

## 1 Introduction

In numerical Monte Carlo simulations of QCD Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT)  is often used to guide the extrapolation to the physical values of the three light quark masses ($`m_um_d`$ and $`m_s`$). In this procedure not only the lattice gauge theory results are established but also useful information is obtained about the values of the Gasser-Leutwyler parameters of ChPT. In fact, recently several groups explored this possibility in quenched  and unquenched simulations with Wilson-type  and staggered  quarks. (For a review see .)

In order to achieve small systematic errors the simulations themselves have to be performed in a range of quark masses where the applied one-loop (NLO) ChPT-formulas give a good approximation. In particular, the characteristic chiral logarithms have to appear in the quark mass dependence of different physical quantities. This applies both to original ChPT as well as to PQChPT . However, in most recent simulations – especially with Wilson-type quarks – this condition is not fulfilled because they are performed in the range $`m_{u,d}\frac{1}{2}m_s`$. Estimates based on present knowledge of the ChPT parameters indicate (see, for instance, ) that at least $`m_{u,d}\frac{1}{4}m_s\frac{1}{5}m_s`$ has to be reached. (See also the summary of the panel discussion at the Boston Lattice Conference .) Another requirement is that the virtual effects of the $`s`$-quark also has to be taken into account by simulating with three light dynamical quarks.

Since the dynamical quarks in most unquenched simulations do not satisfy the above bound, it is not surprising that the chiral logarithms have not been observed . This was the main motivation of our collaboration to start exploring the possibility of simulating QCD with light quarks in the range $`m_{ud}\frac{1}{2}m_s`$ . In these simulations we use the two-step multi-boson (TSMB) algorithm for dynamical fermions  and consider for the moment $`N_s=2`$ dynamical “sea” quarks. The case of $`N_s=3`$ is also under study . Our first simulations were oriented towards the investigation of simulation costs as a function of the quark mass and were performed on modest size lattices (typically $`8^316`$) with lattice spacings of the order $`a0.27\mathrm{fm}`$ – a value where continuum behaviour is not necessarily expected. Therefore, it came to us as a surprise that plotting the pseudoscalar (“pion”) mass and decay constant as a function of the quark mass (in the form suggested by ) the chiral logarithmic behaviour has been qualitatively displayed .

Encouraged by this result we picked out a point with $`m_{ud}\frac{1}{4}m_s`$ and performed a high statistics run on $`16^4`$ lattice in order to study the dependence on the valence quark mass in a sufficiently large physical volume. This has the advantage that by taking ratios of the masses and decay constants the $`Z`$-factors of renormalization cancel. This removes an uncertainty in  where the $`Z`$-factors have been neglected by setting them to $`Z1`$. In our analysis of simulation data we applied PQChPT for Wilson lattice fermions  which take into account leading lattice artefacts of $`𝒪(a)`$.

The plan of this paper is as follows: in the next section the one-loop PQChPT formulas for Wilson lattice fermions will be recapitulated. In section 3 the numerical simulation data will be analyzed and discussed.

## 2 PQChPT formulas

Our analysis of the valence quark dependence of the pseudoscalar mass ($`m_\pi `$) and decay constant ($`f_\pi `$) is based on the one-loop PQChPT formulas for the Wilson lattice action as derived in . Instead of the quantities with dimension mass-square $`\chi _A`$ and $`\rho _A`$ of ref.  we prefer to use the dimensionless ones

$$\chi _A\frac{2B_0m_q}{f_0^2},\rho _A\frac{2W_0ac_{SW}}{f_0^2}.$$
(1)
Here $`m_q`$ is the quark mass, $`a`$ the lattice spacing, $`B_0`$ and $`W_0`$ are parameters of dimension mass and (mass)3, respectively, which appear in the leading order (LO) chiral effective Lagrangian, $`c_{SW}`$ is the coefficient of the $`𝒪(a)`$ chiral symmetry breaking term and $`f_0`$ is the value of the pion decay constant at zero quark mass. (Its normalization is such that the physical value is $`f_093\mathrm{MeV}`$.) In ref.  the case of three non-degenerate quark flavours is considered. Here we consider a general number $`N_s`$ of equal mass sea quarks.

The next to leading order (NLO) PQChPT formula for the pion decay constant is in this case:

$`{\displaystyle \frac{f_{AB}}{f_0}}`$ $`=1{\displaystyle \frac{N_s}{128\pi ^2}}\{(\chi _A+\chi _S+\rho _A+\rho _S)\mathrm{log}\left({\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}(\chi _A+\chi _S+\rho _A+\rho _S)\right)`$ (2)
$`+(\chi _B+\chi _S+\rho _B+\rho _S)\mathrm{log}\left({\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}(\chi _B+\chi _S+\rho _B+\rho _S)\right)\}`$
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{64N_s\pi ^2}}\{\chi _A+\chi _B+\rho _A+\rho _B2\chi _S2\rho _S+(\chi _B\chi _A+\rho _B\rho _A)^1`$
$`[2(\chi _A+\rho _A)(\chi _B+\rho _B)(\chi _S+\rho _S)(\chi _A+\chi _B+\rho _A+\rho _B)\mathrm{log}\left({\displaystyle \frac{\chi _A+\rho _A}{\chi _B+\rho _B}}\right)]\}`$
$`+2\overline{L}_5(\chi _A+\chi _B)+2\overline{W}_5(\rho _A+\rho _B)+4N_s\overline{L}_4\chi _S+4N_s\overline{W}_4\rho _S.`$
Here A and B denote generic quark indices: S will be the label for the sea quarks V for valence quarks. For the pion mass squared we have:

$`{\displaystyle \frac{m_{AB}^2}{f_0^2}}`$ $`={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}(\chi _A+\chi _B+\rho _A+\rho _B)+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{32N_s\pi ^2}}{\displaystyle \frac{(\chi _A+\chi _B+\rho _A+\rho _B)}{(\chi _B\chi _A+\rho _B\rho _A)}}`$ (3)
$`\{(\chi _A+\rho _A)(\chi _S\chi _A+\rho _S\rho _A)\mathrm{log}(\chi _A+\rho _A)`$
$`(\chi _B+\rho _B)(\chi _S\chi _B+\rho _S\rho _B)\mathrm{log}(\chi _B+\rho _A)\}`$
$`+4N_s(2\overline{L}_6\overline{L}_4)\chi _S(\chi _A+\chi _B)+2(2\overline{L}_8\overline{L}_5)(\chi _A+\chi _B)^2`$
$`+4N_s(\overline{W}_6\overline{L}_4)\chi _S(\rho _A+\rho _B)+4N_s(\overline{W}_6\overline{W}_4)\rho _S(\chi _A+\chi _B)`$
$`+2(2\overline{W}_8\overline{W}_5\overline{L}_5)(\chi _A+\chi _B)(\rho _A+\rho _B).`$
The NLO parameters $`\overline{L}_k`$ and $`\overline{W}_k`$ are related to $`L_k`$ and $`W_k`$ in ref.  by

$$\overline{L}_kL_kc_k\mathrm{log}(f_0^2),\overline{W}_kW_kd_k\mathrm{log}(f_0^2),$$
(4)
where the coefficients of the logarithms are given by

$$c_4=\frac{1}{256\pi ^2},c_5=\frac{N_s}{256\pi ^2},c_6=\frac{(N_s^2+2)}{512N_s^2\pi ^2},c_8=\frac{(N_s^24)}{512N_s\pi ^2},$$
(5)
respectively,

$$d_4=\frac{1}{256\pi ^2},d_5=\frac{N_s}{256\pi ^2},d_6=\frac{(N_s^2+2)}{256N_s^2\pi ^2},d_8=\frac{(N_s^24)}{256N_s\pi ^2}.$$
(6)
The relations in (4) have the unpleasant feature that logarithms of a dimensionful quantity appear. One can avoid this by introducing

$$L_k^{}L_kc_k\mathrm{log}(\mu ^2),W_k^{}W_kd_k\mathrm{log}(\mu ^2),$$
(7)
where $`\mu `$ is the mass scale introduced by dimensional regularization. Since $`L_k`$ and $`W_k`$ depend on $`\mu `$ the choice of it in the logarithm is natural. In terms of $`L_k^{}`$ and $`W_k^{}`$ we have

$$\overline{L}_k=L_k^{}c_k\mathrm{log}\left(\frac{f_0^2}{\mu ^2}\right),\overline{W}_k=W_k^{}d_k\mathrm{log}\left(\frac{f_0^2}{\mu ^2}\right).$$
(8)
Note that the NLO parameters $`\alpha _k`$ in ref.  are related to $`L_k^{}`$ by

$$\alpha _k=128\pi ^2L_k^{}.$$
(9)
The universal low energy scales $`\mathrm{\Lambda }_{3,4}`$ in ref.  can be expressed, in the case of $`N_s=2`$, by the following combinations of the coefficients $`\overline{L}_k`$:

$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{256\pi ^2}}\mathrm{log}{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{\Lambda }_3^2}{f_0^2}}`$ $`=\mathrm{\hspace{0.33em}2}\overline{L}_8\overline{L}_5+4\overline{L}_62\overline{L}_4,`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{64\pi ^2}}\mathrm{log}{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{\Lambda }_4^2}{f_0^2}}`$ $`=\mathrm{\hspace{0.33em}2}\overline{L}_4+\overline{L}_5.`$ (10)
In this paper we are interested in the valence quark mass dependence of $`f_\pi `$ and $`m_\pi ^2`$ for fixed sea quark mass parameter $`\chi _S`$. Therefore it is natural to introduce the ratios of the other mass parameters to $`\chi _S`$:

$$\xi \frac{\chi _V}{\chi _S},\eta \frac{\rho _S}{\chi _S},\zeta \frac{\rho _V}{\rho _S}=\frac{\rho _V}{\eta \chi _S}.$$
(11)
Once relations (11) are substituted in (2)-(3), the logarithmic dependence on $`\chi _S`$ can be absorbed in the NLO parameters if one introduces

$`L_{Sk}`$ $`\overline{L}_kc_k\mathrm{log}(\chi _S)=L_k^{}c_k\mathrm{log}\left({\displaystyle \frac{f_0^2}{\mu ^2}}\chi _S\right),`$
$`W_{Sk}`$ $`\overline{W}_kd_k\mathrm{log}(\chi _S)=W_k^{}d_k\mathrm{log}\left({\displaystyle \frac{f_0^2}{\mu ^2}}\chi _S\right).`$ (12)
Let us note that the argument of the last logarithms here can also be written as

$$\frac{f_0^2}{\mu ^2}\chi _S=\frac{2B_0m_{qS}}{\mu ^2}.$$
(13)
In this paper we keep the sea quark mass ($`\chi _S`$) fixed and vary the valence quark mass ($`\chi _V=\xi \chi _S`$). Expanding the ratio of decay constants up to first order in the one-loop corrections one obtains

$`Rf_{VV}`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{f_{VV}}{f_{SS}}}=1+4(\xi 1)\chi _SL_{S5}`$ (14)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{N_s\chi _S}{64\pi ^2}}(1+\xi +2\eta )\mathrm{log}{\displaystyle \frac{1+\xi +2\eta }{2}}+{\displaystyle \frac{N_s\chi _S}{32\pi ^2}}(1+\eta )\mathrm{log}(1+\eta ),`$
and similarly

$`Rf_{VS}`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{f_{VS}}{f_{SS}}}=1+2(\xi 1)\chi _SL_{S5}+{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{64N_s\pi ^2}}(\xi 1){\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{64N_s\pi ^2}}(1+\eta )\mathrm{log}{\displaystyle \frac{\xi +\eta }{1+\eta }}`$ (15)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{N_s\chi _S}{128\pi ^2}}(1+\xi +2\eta )\mathrm{log}{\displaystyle \frac{1+\xi +2\eta }{2}}+{\displaystyle \frac{N_s\chi _S}{64\pi ^2}}(1+\eta )\mathrm{log}(1+\eta ).`$
In case of the ratios of $`m_\pi ^2`$ we expand up to first order in the “correction” which now also includes the $`𝒪(a)`$ terms of the tree-level expressions:

$`Rm_{VV}`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{m_{VV}^2}{m_{SS}^2}}=\xi +\eta \eta \xi `$ (16)
$`+8\xi (\xi 1)\chi _S(2L_{S8}L_{S5})+8N_s(\xi 1)\eta \chi _S(L_{S4}W_{S6})`$
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{16N_s\pi ^2}}(\xi 1)(\xi +\eta ){\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{16N_s\pi ^2}}\xi (1+2\eta )\mathrm{log}(1+\eta )`$
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{16N_s\pi ^2}}(2\xi ^2\xi \eta +3\eta \xi )\mathrm{log}(\xi +\eta ),`$
and

$`Rm_{VS}`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{m_{VS}^2}{m_{SS}^2}}={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}(1+\xi +\eta \eta \xi )`$ (17)
$`+2(\xi +1)(\xi 1)\chi _S(2L_{S8}L_{S5})+4N_s(\xi 1)\eta \chi _S(L_{S4}W_{S6})`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{32N_s\pi ^2}}(\xi +1)(1+2\eta )\mathrm{log}(1+\eta )`$
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{32N_s\pi ^2}}(\xi ^2+\xi +\eta +3\eta \xi )\mathrm{log}(\xi +\eta ).`$
In these expressions it is assumed that the $`𝒪(a)`$ mass terms $`\rho `$ are the same for valence quarks and the sea quark, namely $`\rho _V=\rho _S`$. This is the case if only the hopping parameter $`\kappa `$ is changed. Changing $`\rho _V=\zeta \eta \chi _S`$ can be investigated by changing the Wilson-parameter $`r`$ in the Wilson fermion action, too.

Up to now we considered the valence quark mass dependence for unchanged sea quark masses. Let us remark that the formulas for the sea quark mass dependence can also be written in a similar form as eqs. (14)-(17). In this case it is advantageous to fix a reference sea quark mass $`\chi _R`$ (see ) and introduce the variables

$$\sigma \frac{\chi _S}{\chi _R},\omega \frac{\rho _R}{\chi _R},\tau \frac{\rho _S}{\rho _R}=\frac{\rho _S}{\omega \chi _R}.$$
(18)
Instead of the NLO parameters in (12) the appropriate ones are then obviously

$$L_{Rk}L_k^{}c_k\mathrm{log}\left(\frac{f_0^2}{\mu ^2}\chi _R\right),W_{Rk}W_k^{}d_k\mathrm{log}\left(\frac{f_0^2}{\mu ^2}\chi _R\right).$$
(19)
## 3 Numerical results

We performed Monte Carlo simulations with $`N_s=2`$ degenerate sea quarks on a $`16^4`$ lattice at $`\beta =4.68`$, $`\kappa =0.195`$ and investigated the valence quark mass dependence at $`\kappa =0.1955,\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}0.1945},\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}0.1940},\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}0.1930},\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}0.1920}`$. The statistics corresponds to 1180 gauge field configurations. The error analysis was based on the linearization method . Since $`r_0/a=1.76(6)`$ the lattice spacing is $`a0.28\mathrm{fm}`$. This means that the physical lattice extension is rather large: $`L4.5\mathrm{fm}`$. The value of the quark mass parameter is given by $`am_\pi =0.519(1)`$ as $`M_r(r_0m_\pi )^20.83`$. This is about $`\frac{1}{4}`$ of the value of $`M_r`$ for the strange quark $`M_r^{strange}3.1`$.

The ratios in eqs. (14)-(17) as a function of the quark mass ratio ($`\xi `$) depend on five parameters, namely $`\chi _S,\eta ,L_{S5},(2L_{S8}L_{S5})`$ and $`(L_{S4}W_{S6})`$. With our choice of the valence hopping parameters and with our statistics most of the multi-parameter fits were unstable therefore our analysis is based one a sequence of single or double parameter fits. The stability of the multi-parameter fits can be improved by optimizing the choice of valence quark mass values, which we did not exploit this time.

A very useful quantity is the double ratio of decay constants  which does not depend on any of the NLO coefficients. In other words there one can see the chiral logarithms alone. The NLO formula is:

$$RRf\frac{f_{VS}^2}{f_{VV}f_{SS}}=1+\frac{\chi _S}{32N_s\pi ^2}(\xi 1)\frac{\chi _S}{32N_s\pi ^2}(1+\eta )\mathrm{log}\frac{\xi +\eta }{1+\eta }.$$
(20)
Because of the $`𝒪(a)`$ contributions this has two parameters: $`\chi _S`$ and $`\eta =\rho _S/\chi _S`$. For performing two-parameter fits some timeslice distance pairs were chosen and the fits of the pion- and quark mass were taken from them. Useful choices are, for instance, 4-5, 4-6 or 5-6. (The way physical quantities were obtained has been described in detail in ). The result of the two-parameter fit was (see figure 1):

$$\chi _S=9.2\pm 2.5,\eta =0.14\pm 0.30.$$
(21)
The value of $`\chi _S`$ has the right order of magnitude. Indeed, from the axial Ward identity we obtain $`r_0m_{qS}=0.06Z_q^1`$. Using this and the phenomenological estimates  $`r_0f_0=0.23,r_0B_0=7.0`$, where the value of $`B_0`$ refers to the $`\overline{MS}`$ scheme at $`\mu =2\mathrm{GeV}`$, we deduce $`\chi _S^{estimate}16Z_q^1`$. Here $`Z_q`$ is an unknown $`Z`$-factor relating the bare lattice quark mass to the renormalized one at 2 GeV, which is typically of $`𝒪(1)`$. Another estimate can be obtained by using the tree-level ChPT formula $`\chi _S^{estimate}M_r/(r_0f_0)^215.7`$.

As one can see from (21), the value of the ratio $`\eta =\rho _S/\chi _S`$ has a large error in the fit. The reason is that the functional form of the terms due to the leading $`𝒪(a)`$ lattice artefacts is not very different from those coming from the non-zero quark mass. Nevertheless, they are different and an optimized choice of $`\xi `$-values plus high statistics allowing for stable multi-parameter fits makes the distinction of the two sorts of chiral symmetry breaking possible. In the rest of this paper we only consider one- and two-parameter fits with fixed $`\eta `$ in the range given by (21).

After determining $`\chi _S`$ and $`\eta =\rho _S/\chi _S`$ from the double ratio $`RRf`$ one can fit the other ratios to obtain estimates of the NLO coefficients. A nice linear combination of mass-squared ratios is:

$`LRm`$ $`2Rm_{VS}Rm_{VV}=14(\xi 1)^2\chi _S(2L_{S8}L_{S5}){\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{16N_s\pi ^2}}(\xi 1)(\xi +\eta )`$ (22)
$`{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{16N_s\pi ^2}}(1+2\eta )\mathrm{log}(1+\eta ){\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S}{16N_s\pi ^2}}(\xi ^22\xi 2\eta )\mathrm{log}(\xi +\eta ).`$
This has only a single new parameter $`(2L_{S8}L_{S5})`$ and the statistical errors are small, therefore one can also perform a two-parameter fit of $`\chi _S`$ and $`(2L_{S8}L_{S5})`$ with the result ($`\eta =0.05`$ fixed, errors in last digits given in parentheses):

$$2L_{S8}L_{S5}=0.00203(5),2\alpha _8\alpha _5=0.85(6),\chi _S=5.2(1.1).$$
(23)
$`\alpha _k`$ denote the NLO parameters in (9) taken at the renormalization scale $`\mu =4\pi f_0`$. Fixing both $`\chi _S=10.0`$ and $`\eta =0.10`$ gives:

$$2L_{S8}L_{S5}=0.00177(3),2\alpha _8\alpha _5=0.58(3).$$
(24)
As figure 2 shows, with these parameters the last point is not perfectly fitted. A perfect fit is obtained with the parameters in (23).

The value of $`L_{S5}`$ can be determined from $`Rf_{VV}`$. ($`Rf_{VS}`$ gives very similar results.) In this case the statistical errors are larger, therefore only a single parameter fit is useful. The result for fixed $`\chi _S=10.0`$ and $`\eta =0.10`$ is (see figure 3):

$$L_{S5}=0.0034(1),\alpha _5=1.55(24).$$
(25)
The errors given in (23)-(25) are the ones for the specified values of fixed parameters. The overall error is, of course, larger – as one can see, for instance, by comparing (23) and (24). The values of $`(2\alpha _8\alpha _5)`$ and $`\alpha _5`$ are somewhat larger than the results of UKQCD : $`(2\alpha _8\alpha _5)=0.36\pm 0.10`$ and $`\alpha _5=1.22\pm 0.11`$ (only statistical errors quoted).

The double ratio of the pion mass squares

$`RRm`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{m_{VS}^4}{m_{VV}^2m_{SS}^2}}={\displaystyle \frac{(\xi +1)(\xi ^2+\xi \eta +2\eta \xi \eta \xi ^2)}{4\xi ^2}}`$ (26)
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S(\xi +1)(\xi ^2+\xi +\eta +3\eta \xi ^2)\mathrm{log}(\xi +\eta )}{64N_s\pi ^2\xi ^2}}{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S(\xi +1)^2(2\eta +1)\mathrm{log}(1+\eta )}{64N_s\pi ^2\xi }}`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{\chi _S(\xi 1)(\xi +1)^2(\xi +\eta )}{64N_s\pi ^2\xi ^2}}+{\displaystyle \frac{2N_s\chi _S\eta (\xi +1)(\xi 1)^2}{\xi ^2}}(L_{S4}W_{S6})`$
can be used to determine the fifth parameter $`(L_{S4}W_{S6})`$. In this case a single parameter fit with fixed $`\chi _S=10.0`$ and $`\eta =0.10`$ gives $`(L_{S4}W_{S6})=0.00358(6)`$.

The conclusion of this paper is that – once the quark masses are small enough – the qualitative behaviour of the low energy chiral effective theory with chiral logarithms is present even on coarse lattices. Since here ratios of pion masses and decay constants are considered the $`Z`$-factors of renormalization cancel, therefore the uncertainty about their $`\beta `$-dependence, which can influence the results of , is removed. The coefficients of the observed chiral logarithms and the fitted values of the Gasser-Leutwyler coefficients are close to expectation. This qualitative agreement of the results of a numerical simulation with (PQ)ChPT is quite satisfactory but for a quantitative determination of NLO ChPT parameters one has to perform extrapolations to $`a0`$ and $`m_q0`$. Since $`𝒪(a)`$ effects are taken into account in the analysis by the Rupak-Shoresh effective Lagrangian, the continuum limit will be reached asymptotically at the rate $`𝒪(a^2)`$.

The computations were performed on the APEmille systems installed at NIC Zeuthen, the Cray T3E systems at NIC Jülich and the PC clusters at DESY Hamburg. We thank Hartmut Wittig for helpful discussions on various topics and for careful reading of the manuscript. I.M. profited from enlightening discussions on the Asia-Pacific Mini-Workshop on Lattice QCD especially with Shoji Hashimoto, Yoichi Iwasaki, Yusuke Namekawa and Steve Sharpe.


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# Fe K emission and absorption features in XMM-Newton spectra of Mkn 766 - evidence for reprocessing in flare ejecta

## 1 Introduction

Perhaps the most striking recent development in X-ray studies of AGN has been the observation, from high resolution grating spectra with Chandra and XMM-Newton, of complex absorption indicating circumnuclear (often outflowing) matter existing in a wide range of ionisation states (eg Sako et al. 2001, Kaspi et al. 2002). To date, however, it has generally been assumed that this so-called ‘warm absorber’ was essentially transparent in the ‘Fe K spectral band’ above $``$6 keV. This is important as, following its recognition over a decade ago as a common feature in the X-ray spectra of AGN (Pounds et al. 1990), the Fe K emission line has assumed a diagnostic potential comparable to that of H Ly-alpha. The subsequent observation of a relativistically broadened Fe K line in the Seyfert galaxy MCG-6-30-15 (Tanaka et al. 1995) offered a unique probe of strong gravity (Fabian et al. 2000); moreover, the relativistic broad line was reported to be a common property of Seyfert 1 galaxies in ASCA spectra (Nandra et al. 1997).

Although, with a few notable exceptions (eg MCG-6-30-15; Wilms et al. 2002; Fabian et al. 2002), the comparable but more sensitive XMM-Newton EPIC observations have so far failed to confirm the ASCA results, in particular the strong ‘red wing’ to the Fe K line, the Fe K spectrum remains of high diagnostic potential (eg Reynolds and Nowak 2002). The revised picture arising from XMM-Newton and Chandra observations includes the frequent detection of a narrow emission line at $``$6.4 keV (Yaqoob et al. 2001, Kaspi et al. 2001, O’Brien et al. 2001, Gondoin et al. 2001,Pounds et al. 2003), presumed to have a distinct origin, away from the inner disc, together - in several cases - with a broad emission feature at $``$ 6.4-7 keV, indicative of emission from ionised matter (Reeves et al. 2001, Pounds et al. 2001, Matt et al. 2001).

In this paper we report on the spectral analysis of the XMM-Newton EPIC observations of Mkn 766, one of the brightest and best-studied Narrow Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies. In the X-ray region the established characteristics of NLS1s are, a relatively steep power law spectrum and strong and rapid variability. Mkn 766 is a particularly interesting candidate because of its similarities with MCG-6-30-15, the archetypal relativistic broad Fe K line Seyfert. At $`z=0.0129`$ (with $`H_0=75`$ km s-1 Mpc$`{}_{}{}^{1})`$ Mkn 766 has an X-ray luminosity (2–10 keV) which historically lies in the range $`0.51\times 10^{43}`$ erg s-1. The Galactic absorption column towards Mkn 766 is $`1.8\times 10^{20}`$ cm-2 (Murphy et al. 1996), rendering it easily visible over the whole ($``$0.2–12 keV) spectral band of the EPIC detectors on XMM-Newton.

Previous X-ray observations of Mkn 766 have provided a somewhat confusing picture. Though not one of the most convincing cases, Mkn 766 was included in the aforementioned ASCA spectral survey of Seyfert galaxies showing evidence of a relativistic broad Fe K emission line (Nandra et al. 1997). A separate analysis of simultaneous ROSAT and ASCA observations (Leighly et al. 1996) showed the X-ray spectrum to be described by a power law of index increasing strongly with flux (from $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$$``$1.6–2, assuming a reflection factor R = $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$/2$`\pi `$, where $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ is the solid angle subtended by the reflecting matter, of unity), but with only a narrow Fe K emission line (equivalent width $``$100 eV at $``$6.4 keV). A later observation with BeppoSAX found a somewhat steeper power law ($`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$$``$2.2), and evidence for an absorption edge at $``$7.4 keV (Matt et al. 2000). Those authors coupled the non-detection of a narrow 6.4 keV Fe K line with the edge detection to suggest strong reflection from moderately ionised matter.

It is apparent that studies of the Fe K spectral region in NLS1s, with their characteristic steep power law spectra, were particularly limited by the poor sensitivity of observations above $``$7 keV, prior to the launch of XMM-Newton. In that context the existence now of two long observations of Mkn 766 with XMM-Newton are of particular interest. An initial analysis of the first EPIC data set has been published by Page et al. (2001), finding evidence for a broad Fe K emission line. However, the main focus of that analysis was a study of spectral variability. A first report on the second XMM-Newton observation of Mkn 766 is mainly concerned with the analysis and interpretation of the RGS spectrum, but does include reference to a relativistically broadened Fe K line (Mason et al. 2003). Added importance is attached to the latter claim by the similarity of the reported Fe K line profile to the controversial detection of relativistic emission lines of OVIII, NVII and CVI in the soft X-ray spectrum of Mkn 766 and MCG-6-30-15 (Branduardi-Raymont et al. 2001; Lee et al. 2001).

The present paper reports a new analysis of the EPIC spectral data from both observations, focussing in particular on the Fe K region.

## 2 Observation and data reduction

Mkn 766 was observed by XMM-Newton on 2000 May 20 and again on 2001 May 20-21. Useful exposure times of $``$60 ksec and $``$130 ksec were obtained. In this paper we primarily use data from the EPIC pn cameras (Strüder et al.2001) which have the best sensitivity of any instruments flown to date in the $``$6-10 keV spectral band, relevant to a study of Fe K spectral features. However, we have confirmed that the MOS spectra are entirely consistent with the results reported here.

The EPIC pn data were first screened with the XMM SAS v5.3 software. X-ray events corresponding to patterns 0-4 (single and double pixel events) were selected. A low energy cut of 200 eV was applied to all data and known hot or bad pixels were removed. We extracted source and background spectra with a circular source region of 45′′ radius defined around the centroid position of Mkn 766, with the background being taken from an offset position close to the source. The 0.2-10 keV X-ray light curve from the second observation is reproduced as figure 1 and shows Mkn 766 in a typically active state, with factor 2 flux changes in a few ksec. The Small Window mode was chosen for both pn observations to minimise the effects of photon pile-up. Individual spectra were binned to a minimum of 20 counts per bin, to facilitate use of the $`\chi ^2`$ minimalisation technique in spectral fitting. Response functions for spectral fitting to the XMM-Newton data were generated from the SAS v5.3.

Spectral fitting was based on the Xspec fitting package (version 11.1). All spectral fits include absorption due to the line-of-sight Galactic column of $`N_H=1.8\times 10^{20}\mathrm{cm}^2`$, and fit parameters are given in the AGN rest-frame. Errors are quoted at the 90% confidence level (e.g. $`\mathrm{\Delta }\chi ^2=2.7`$ for one interesting parameter).

## 3 3–11 keV spectrum

### 3.1 Power law

X-ray spectra of AGN are well fitted, to first order, with a power law of photon index $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ in the range $``$1.6-2 for most radio quiet AGN, with a fraction (eg NLS1) having somewhat steeper indices. The widely held view that this ‘hard’ X-ray continuum in Seyfert galaxies arises by Comptonisation of thermal emission from the accretion disc in a ’hot’ corona, predicts that such a power law should apply over a broad energy range between that of the disc photons ($``$25 eV) and the coronal electrons ($``$150 keV), a range comfortably exceeding the energy band covered by the EPIC instruments on XMM-Newton. Determining the slope and intensity of this spectral component remains a key to the analysis of absorption and emission features superimposed on the X-ray continuum. To tightly constrain the value of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ it is valuable to have simultaneous data at higher energies, with which to determine the amount of continuum ‘reflection’. In the present case there was a simultaneous BeppoSAX observation of Mkn 766 and we have used this to obtain a reflection factor of R = 1.7$`\pm `$0.4. Unfortunately, this can only provide an upper limit to the reflection in Mkn 766 due to the presence in the field of view of the BeppoSAX PDS instrument of the bright BL Lac object PG1218+304 (as previously noted by Matt et al. 2000). In our subsequent analysis we have therefore assumed a ‘typical’ value of R = 1.

We began our analysis of Mkn 766 by fitting the XMM-Newton data for the longer 2001 May observation above 3 keV, where any effects of intervening absorption might be expected to be small, a view supported by the analysis of the warm absorber with the high resolution gratings on XMM-Newton (Mason et al. 2003). Since we are also interested in any gross spectral changes with source brightness we excluded the final 25 ksec of this observation, where the flux level was much lower (figure 1), and summed the spectra over the remaining $``$100 ksec to give our ‘high state’ spectrum. Throughout this period the background rate was low and stable.

A simple power law fit over the 3–11 keV band (including cold reflection of R = 1, modelled by PEXRAV in Xspec) yielded a photon index of $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$$``$2.2, with a broad excess in the data:model ratio between 6–7 keV and a clear deficit above $``$8.7 keV (figure 2), giving an unacceptable $`\chi ^2`$/dof of 1426/1190.

### 3.2 Fe K emission and absorption features

To improve this fit we then added spectral components to match the most obvious features in the data. The addition of a Gaussian emission line, with all parameters free, improved the fit markedly (to $`\chi ^2`$/dof = 1316/1187), with a mean line energy at 6.55$`\pm `$0.03 keV, 1 sigma line width 270$`\pm `$36 eV, and equivalent width 124$`\pm `$35 eV.

Given the frequent detection of a narrow ‘neutral’ Fe K line in other Seyfert 1 galaxies, we tested this fit for an additional narrow Gaussian line, with energy fixed at 6.4 keV. The result was a further improvement in the fit (to $`\chi ^2`$/dof = 1304/1186). The narrow 6.4 keV line had a (poorly constrained) equivalent width of $``$40 eV, reducing the broad, higher energy line by a similar amount. The mean energy of the broad Gaussian line increased to 6.73$`\pm `$0.06 keV ( now consistent with the resonance line of He-like Fe at 6.7 keV).

Visual examination of this power law plus double emission line fit showed the deficit of flux remained at $``$8.5-10 keV. To model this feature we then added an absorption edge with energy and optical depth as free parameters. The result was a further significant improvement in the fit (to $`\chi ^2`$/dof = 1272/1184), with an edge energy at $``$8.77 keV (consistent with the He-like Fe XXV absorption edge at $``$8.76 keV) and optical depth $``$0.15. Details of this parametric fit to the May 2001 pn data are listed in Table 1, fit 1, and the unfolded spectrum is shown in figure 3.

In summary, we find the 3-11 keV spectrum of Mkn 766 to be well described by a moderately steep power law continuum, plus broad/ ionised (and probably weak/neutral) line emission, and a significant absorption feature above $``$8.7 keV. A physical interpretation of this fit, where the broad emission and absorption features arise in highly ionised ‘clouds’ above the hard X-ray continuum source, is discussed in Section 5.3. The assumed cold reflection continuum , and weak $``$6.4 keV emission line indicate separate reprocessing in near-neutral matter.

### 3.3 Reflection from an ionised disc

Reflection from ionised matter offers an alternative, presently more conventional, origin of the broad $``$6.7 keV emission line. We therefore tested a model for the 2001 May XMM-Newton pn data, with the hard continuum source illuminating dense matter (as in an accretion disc). We chose the XION model available in Xspec v.11.2, which includes the effects of relativistic broadening and predicts He-like Fe K line emission for disc illumination with a relatively steep power law, as in Mkn 766. The fit parameters of the model (Nayakshin et al.2001) include the source geometry, disc inclination and accretion rate through the disc. As in the previous fit we included a narrow line at $``$6.4 keV as a separate component. Our trial fit used the ‘lamppost’ geometry with source height fixed at 5$`R_s`$, where $`R_s`$ is the Schwarzschild radius, the ratio of ionising to disc flux Fx/Fd = 0.3, solar abundance of Fe, and outer disc radius = 100$`R_s`$. Free parameters were, the accretion rate, incidence angle to the disc and the inner disc radius. The outcome was a reasonable fit ($`\chi ^2`$/dof = 1314/1187), with $`\dot{m}`$=0.5$`\pm `$0.2, Cos$`\theta `$$``$0.9, and $`r_{in}`$ = 35$`\pm `$6$`R_s`$. However, examination of the data:model residuals again showed a strong absorption feature at $``$8.7 keV (figure 4). The addition of an absorption edge at $``$8.76 keV ($`\tau `$$``$0.14) improved the fit significantly (to $`\chi ^2`$/dof = 1287/1185).

Our conclusion from this ‘ionised reflector’ fit is that the broad, $``$6.7 keV emission line is compatible with reflection from an ionised disc, with the relatively steep power law continuum of Mkn 766 resulting in a ‘warm reflecting layer’ of mainly He-like Fe, and the innermost disc being absent (or fully ionised), in accord with the absence of a relativistic broad line. We note the deduced value of $`\dot{m}`$ in Mkn 766 is consistent with NLS1 being thought to be accreting at a relatively high rate (eg Pounds and Vaughan 2000). However, we emphasise that our ionised disc fit is only illustrative, the main objective here being to see if the $``$8.7 keV absorption feature is explained by (the same) reflection as produces the $``$6.7 keV emission line. Our fits suggest this is not the case, probably due to the high level of scattering in the ionised skin of the disc, which predicts a broader and shallower absorption than that seen.

## 4 Comparison with the 2000 May observation

A preliminary analysis of the pn data from the shorter 2000 May XMM-Newton EPIC observation of Mkn 766 has been reported by Page et al. (2001). We have re-analysed the mean EPIC spectrum over the first 45 ksec of that observation when the mean 0.3-10 keV X-ray flux was only $``$0.5 of that a year later. We identify this as our ‘low state’ spectrum. Again, the most obvious spectral feature (figure 5) is an excess of flux at $``$6-7 keV. There is also a deficit of flux at a higher energy, in this case more evident between $``$7–8.5 keV. Applying the same best-fit model that we found for the pn data from the 2001 May observation gives the parameters in fit 2 of Table 1. The fit is very good, with a slightly flatter power law slope (by $``$0.16). The Fe K line parameters are unchanged within the statistical errors, but the absorption does appear to have moved to lower energy, still implying a substantial column density of absorbing matter, though now in a lower ionisation state. We note this cooler absorbing matter might demand partial covering so as not to be in conflict with the soft X-ray spectrum. (A high reflection factor could provide an alternative explanation, though this would be inconsistent with the weak $``$6.4 keV emission line.)

### 4.1 Spectral variability

To explore the spectral variability in a model-independent way we plot in figure 6 the ratio of the high and low state spectral data. To first order this ratio rises smoothly from 10 to 1 keV, as would be expected for a power law index increasing with flux, and then falls at lower energies (indicating a separate and less variable component below $``$1 keV). However, a positive feature between $``$7.5-8.5 keV is consistent with our parametric fits that indicate additional absorption in this band in the low state spectrum. The alternative interpretation of figure 6, that the flux ratio is showing reduced variability of a broad emission line, seems less compelling from this plot.

To seek further insight on the spectral variability of Mkn 766 we then looked for evidence of change during the longer 2001 May XMM-Newton observation. The outcome is reproduced in figure 7, which shows the fractional (rms) variability amplitude, after subtraction of the Poisson noise, as a function of energy (Edelson et al. 2002, Appendix A). This plot clearly indicates a change in the degree of short-term (ie within the 100 ksec observation) variability in the 6–9 keV band. This again might be interpreted in terms of reduced variability in the Fe K emission line, but that would imply the line extending to $``$7.5 keV, which the spectral analysis does not support. A more compelling explanation is that the enhanced short-term variability in the 7.5–9.5 keV energy band is due to variable, ionised absorption. The implication is that ionised matter is moving in front of the continuum source, or is changing in ionisation state, within the observing time span.

### 4.2 Flare and non-flare spectrum

Given the above evidence for rapid spectral changes in the Fe K band we then examined the individual spectra in six 20 ksec intervals across the complete May 2001 observation. Spectral variability was indicated but without any clear pattern being evident. We then made a different cut, separating the data with an overall count rate (see figure 1) above and below 21 counts/sec, thereby seeking to resolve changes associated with the strong flux peaks. The outcome of this split is illustrated in figure 8, which shows the data:model ratio plots for the ‘flare’ and ‘non-flare’ spectra, against the best fit power law. Two differences stand out. First, the broad Fe K emission is significantly weaker in the ‘flare’ data; second, the ionised absorption appears at a significantly higher energy. An alternative view of these spectral changes is shown in figure 9, plotting the ratio of flare to non-flare data. The implication of this plot is that the ionised absorption edge does indeed move to a higher energy during the flares, while increased absorption may also be responsible for depressing the broad emission line. The inference from this interpretation is that highly ionised matter is injected into the line of sight during the flares. On this view the shift in the absorption edge energy could reflect an increased level of ionisation (He-like to H-like Fe) or be a measure of the injection velocity of (He-like) matter. If the marked decrease in the strength of the $``$6.7 keV emission is due to resonant line absorption, the implied opacity requires a large velocity dispersion and/or a range of ionisation states. Higher resolution spectra will be required to address this question.

To quantify the visible differences in the ‘flare’ and ‘non-flare’ spectra we then fitted each data set with the parametric models used for the full 2001 May observation (Table 1, fit 1). The fit details are given in Table 2. In summary, the non-flare spectrum is similar to the mean for the complete data, but the flare spectrum has the most obvious absorption edge at a higher energy of $``$9.15 keV (close to the H-like Fe edge at 9.28 keV). The emission line fit includes an unchanged 6.4 keV line, but substantially weaker emission at $``$6.7 keV. The photon flux value for the ionised emission line is 1.3$`\pm `$0.3$`\times 10^5`$ cm-2 s-1 in the non-flare spectral fit, falling to 5.5$`\pm `$2.7 $`\times 10^6`$ cm-2 s-1 in the flare spectrum. It seems likely that this reduction in the observed ionised line emission is due to absorption not fully resolved by the pn detector.

## 5 Discussion

Our analysis of the XMM-Newton EPIC data on Mkn 766 emphasises again the often subtle effects of absorption and reflection in fitting broad-band X-ray spectra. Although current observing facilities still have relatively poor sensitivity above $``$7 keV, this spectral region is a unique diagnostic of a potentially large column density of ionised matter in which all abundant elements lighter than Fe may be fully stripped. Neglect of such absorption can lead to an overestimate of broad Fe K line emission. More generally, the present analysis of the XMM-Newton spectrum of Mkn 766 strengthens an emerging view that the extreme red wing, indicated to be a common feature of Seyfert 1 galaxies in ASCA data (eg Nandra et al. 1997), is probably less strong and less common than previously reported.

### 5.1 Fe K line emission

The XMM-Newton observations of Mkn 766 do, however, indicate complex spectral structure, with the 6–7 keV energy band containing emission from both neutral and ionised Fe. Our data cannot uniquely resolve the emission components in Mkn 766, but a plausible solution includes lines with energies compatible with near-neutral and He-like Fe. What is notable is the relative weakness of both lines. In the case of the 6.4 keV line, the equivalent width of $``$40 eV is barely compatible with the previously reported cold reflection, R $``$1. An explanation of the weak line emission in terms of an unusually low abundance of Fe appears at odds with optical spectra of Mkn 766 and NLS1 in general. An interesting alternative, for the 6.4 keV line, could be that the relevant fluorescing matter is moderately ionised ($`\xi `$ in the range 100-500), with resonance absorption and subsequent Auger destruction of the line photons(Matt et al. 1993) - and would imply that a significant fraction of the corresponding reflection occurs closer to the hard X-ray source than the molecular torus.

That much of the reprocessing matter is highly ionised is apparent from the observed He-like emission and absorption features. Paradoxically the weak He-like emission line is at odds with the higher fluorescent yield for that ion. The implication, for a reflection model, is that emergence through a substantial optical depth of fully ionised matter is removing flux from the detected line cores. This ionised matter could exist in the form of a ‘skin’ to the inner accretion disc, an effect included in the ionised disc model we used. However, the visual evidence for substantial absorption by ionised Fe in Mkn 766 suggests that line emission from the accretion disc may also be attenuated in passage through He-like Fe lying above the hard X-ray source. A more radical alternative is that both Fe K absorption and (re-)emission arises mainly in such ‘external’ matter.

### 5.2 Line-of-sight absorption

A broad absorption trough is clearly visible in the 2001 May pn data (figure 2). Fitting this feature with an absorption edge finds a ‘rest’ energy of 8.8$`\pm `$0.1 keV, close to that of He-like Fe (8.76 keV). With a threshold absorption cross-section of $`2\times `$$`10^{20}`$ cm2 (Verner and Yakovlev, 1995) the measured optical depth of 0.12$`\pm `$0.03 implies a column density of order $`6\times `$$`10^{18}`$ cm-2 of He-like Fe (or a hydrogen equivalent column for solar abundance of order $`2\times `$$`10^{23}`$ cm-2). We note the recent detection of an apparently similar ionised absorption feature in the X-ray spectrum of a BAL QSO (APM 08279+5255), alternatively identified with the absorption edge of Fe XV-XVIII (Hasinger et al. 2002), or strongly blue-shifted resonance absorption lines of Fe XXV or XXVI (Chartas et al. 2002), also implies a substantial line-of-sight column of highly ionised matter. Earlier, a long ASCA observation of NGC 3516 yielded evidence for absorption superimposed on the ‘red wing’ of a broad Fe K emission line (Nandra et al. 1999). Our analysis of the Mkn 766 spectrum from both XMM-Newton observations suggests further absorption (additional to the main edge) in the 7–10 keV band, and we recall the BeppoSAX observation of Mkn 766 also found evidence for an absorption edge at $``$7.4 keV with an optical depth ($`\tau `$$``$0.26), greater than would be expected from a simple disc reflection model (Matt et al. 2000). Other reports of surprisingly strong absorption in the Fe K band, mainly from XMM-Newton observations, include the NLS1 1H 0707-495 (Boller et al. 2002), and the luminous low redshift QSO PDS 456 (Reeves et al. in preparation).

We conclude that the Fe K spectral band in many AGN may be affected by substantially more absorption than has generally been recognised. More complex modelling may be necessary, and we note, for example, that inner-shell transitions in a wide range of ionisation states, analogous to those detected in the soft X-ray band (eg Sako et al. 2001), have recently been discussed in relation to the structure of the Fe K edge in ionised matter by Palmeri et al. (2002).

### 5.3 Absorption and re-emission in ionised clouds

Although the first suggestion of X-ray ‘reflection’ in AGN was made in terms of reprocessing in dense, accreting clouds (Guilbert and Rees 1988), since the predicted spectral features became well established (Pounds et al. 1990, Nandra and Pounds 1994), the usual interpretation has assumed the scattering and fluorescence to arise from the putative accretion disc. On this view our hard X-ray spectrum of Mkn 766 would invoke 2-component reflection, from distant/cold and nearby/ionised matter (perhaps the molecular torus and inner accretion disc, respectively). Compton scattering in a fully ionised ‘skin’ overlying the inner disc could then explain the relative weakness and width of the ionised 6.7 keV emission line, particular if allowance was made for line blending. \[The absence of a ‘red wing’ would suggest the innermost disc was fully ionised, or absent.\] However, as noted in Section 3.3, the relatively ‘sharp’ ionised absorption edge appears to be inconsistent with this simple reflection model, as is the weakness of the $``$6.4 keV line (unless the abundance of Fe is much less than ‘solar’).

The analysis presented in this paper has demonstrated that taking account of such absorption can weaken the evidence for reprocessing to be taking place in a region of strong gravity (the innermost accretion disc). At the same time indications of a large column density of ionised gas in the line of sight to the continuum X-ray source offers another candidate for the reprocessing matter. We briefly explore such an alternative scenario to explain the X-ray spectral features in Mkn 766, in which the hard X-ray continuum flux emerges through a distribution of ionised matter (‘clouds’) at a small radial distance. Such clouds will see a much higher ionising flux and have higher velocities, for example, than the optical broad line clouds.

The measured optical depth of the $``$8.7 keV edge implies a cloud column density of He-like Fe of $`6\times 10^{18}`$ cm-2. The photon flux absorbed by the He-like edge is $`8\times 10^5`$ cm-2 s-1. Assuming a fluorescent yield of 0.75, re-emission from a spherical distribution of such clouds would match the observed 6.7 keV emission line flux of $`10^5`$ cm-2 s-1 for a covering factor of $``$0.2. Apparently such re-emission could make a significant contribution to the observed He-like Fe K emission.

It is interesting to extend this simple assessment of a circumnuclear cloud model by interpreting the observed line width in terms of the velocity dispersion of the emitting material (ie in the traditional way for the broad optical lines), while recalling that the small equivalent width of the $``$6.7 keV line does suggest significant Comptonisation. However, on the assumption that the ‘core’ line broadening is primarily Doppler, then the measured line width of $`\sigma `$ = 200 eV, or $``$22000 km s-1 at FWHM, equates to a radial distance of $`10^{14}`$ cm for a black hole mass for Mkn 766 of $`3\times 10^6`$ $`\mathrm{M}_{}`$. Assuming a cloud radius of $`3\times 10^{13}`$ cm, the observed column density then gives a mean cloud density of $`7\times 10^9`$ cm-3. A rough consistency check on these parameters can be made by calculating the ionisation parameter for such a cloud irradiated by the ionising continuum source in Mkn 766. Integrating the measured luminosity above the Fe K edge we find log $`\xi `$ = $`L/nr^2`$ $``$3.8, confirming that if such a cloud existed then it would indeed be ionised to a level where He-like Fe dominates.

The purpose of the above estimates was to point out that ionised matter lying above the continuum X-ray source may contribute significantly to the observed Fe K emission features. However, what appears more certain is that such matter will impose significant absorption on the emerging spectrum. Our evidence suggests this absorption varies on both the long term (ie between the 2000 and 2001 XMM-Newton observations), and short term. The degree of short-term variability (ie within the 100 ksec observation) in the 6–9 keV band is of particular interest. Interpreting the data shown in figure 7 in terms of variable ionised absorption, the implication is that ionised flare ejecta are moving in front of the hard X-ray source, or are changing in ionisation state, from He-like to H-like Fe, within a timescale of a few ks. The former interpretation provides a further constraint on our cloud model. For a cloud of radius $`3\times 10^{13}`$ cm to occult a point source of hard X-radiation in, say $`2\times 10^4`$ sec, requires a transverse velocity of $``$15000 km s-1, consistent with the velocity deduced from the X-ray line width. A possible origin for ionised matter moving at such high velocities is suggested by the association of the observed spectral changes with X-ray flaring. If the energy shift of the primary absorption edge is interpreted in terms of an outflow of flare ejecta, the corresponding velocity is $``$15000 km s-1, at least an intriguing coincidence.

We note, finally, that if the above conjecture is extended to include Fe K shell absorption by line-of-sight matter over a wider range of ionisation states, as the XMM-Newton spectra suggest, then this concept of partial covering may need to be invoked to explain the continuing visibility of soft X-ray emission from Mkn 766.

### 5.4 Are powerful X-ray flares and flare ejecta likely in Mkn 766 ?

The background-subtracted light curve of the 2001 May XMM-Newton observation is shown in figure 1. It is clearly highly variable, a characteristic of NLS1, but in a non-random manner. Indeed, similar variability in the first XMM-Newton observation of Mkn 766 led Boller et al. to suggest a periodicity. We have chosen instead to characterise the variability as consisting of a sequence of ‘flares‘ and draw attention to the similarity with the X-ray light curve of the luminous QSO PDS 456. In that case Reeves et al. 2002 have suggested a model in which the the hard X-ray pulses are coherent events arising close to the SMBH, and involving a sequence (avalanche) of magnetic flares in which energy is deposited into the coronal electrons by magnetic reconnection. A simple scaling of the arguments presented in Reeves et al. 2002, for a black hole of $`M3\times 10^6\mathrm{M}_{}`$ and $`\dot{m}`$=0.3, perhaps appropriate to Mkn 766, yields a kinetic energy flux through the inner accretion disc of $`10^{44}`$ erg s-1. For a substantial fraction of this energy to rise into the corona in the form of buoyant magnetic flux tubes requires magnetic fields of order $`B1.5\times 10^4`$ G to be generated within the inner accretion disc. Hence the total energy built up in the corona could be $`>B^2(3R_s)^3/8\pi 10^{45}`$ erg. This energy reservoir is comparable to the energy in a large scale fluctuation in the Mkn 766 X-ray light curve. Again, following the arguments in Reeves et al. 2002, the Alfven time in the corona of Mkn 766 would be $``$300 s, allowing individual flares to occur in $`10^3`$ s. With the energy release in an single flare (Di Matteo 1998) $`10^{39}`$ erg s-1, a cascade or avalanche of a few 1000 individual flares could then explain the observed fluctuations in Mkn 766. As pointed out in Reeves et al.2002, such large amplitude, coherent x-ray fluctuations may be a further signature of AGN accreting at a relatively high rate.

### 5.5 The X-ray spectrum of Mkn 766, a high accretion rate AGN

The average observed flux in the 2–10 keV band during the 2001 May 20-21 observation was $`2\times 10^{11}`$ erg s-1 cm-2, corresponding to a luminosity of $`7\times 10^{42}`$ erg s-1. The bolometric luminosity is then likely to be of order $`10^{44}`$ erg s-1. Assuming a black hole mass for Mkn 766 in the range M $`10^610^7\mathrm{M}_{}`$ this luminosity implies an accretion rate of $``$ 10–100 percent of the Eddington rate, in contrast to the value of only 4 percent reported for the archetypal BLS1 NGC 5548 (Pounds et al. 2003). We have argued previously that a high accretion rate may be the key to the characteristic X-ray properties of Narrow Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (eg Pounds and Vaughan 2000), to which now might be added Fe K absorption (and possibly significant emission) due to highly ionised circumnuclear matter.

## 6 Conclusions

(1) When due account is taken of absorption in the 7–10 keV band we find there is no requirement for the previously reported strong, relativistically broad Fe K emission line in the XMM-Newton spectrum of Mkn 766. The residual line emission is relatively weak, with probable components from both He-like and near-neutral Fe.

(2) Evidence of a substantial column density of highly ionised matter in the line-of sight to the hard X-ray source, adds a further component to the growing complexity of matter in the vicinity of the (once considered bare) Seyfert 1 nucleus.

(3) We sketch a model in which X-ray absorption and re-emission arise in circumnuclear matter, existing in the form of ionised clouds (or ejecta) close to the SMBH.

(4) Short-term variability in both Fe K absorption and emission features is found to be linked with large scale X-ray flaring.

## Acknowledgements

The results reported here are based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and the USA (NASA). The authors wish to thank the SOC and SSC teams for organising the XMM-Newton observations and initial data reduction and Simon Vaughan for several stimulating discussions.


text:
# In-medium vector meson masses in a Chiral SU(3) model

## I Introduction

The medium modifications of the vector mesons ($`\rho `$ and $`\omega `$) in hot and dense matter have recently been a topic of great interest in the strong interaction physics research, both experimentally helios ; ceres ; dls ; rhic ; hades  and theoretically brown ; rapp ; hat ; jin ; samir ; weise ; ernst . One of the explanations of the experimental observation of enhanced dilepton production helios ; ceres ; dls  in the low invariant mass regime could be a reduction in the vector meson masses in the medium. It was first suggested by Brown and Rho that the vector meson masses drop in the medium according to a simple (BR) scaling law brown , given as $`m_V^{}/m_V=f_\pi ^{}/f_\pi `$. $`f_\pi `$ is the pion decay constant and the asterisk refers to in-medium quantities. There have also been QCD sum rule approaches extensively used in the literature hat ; jin ; samir ; weise  for consideration of the in-medium vector meson properties. In the framework of Quantum Hadrodynamics (QHD) qhd  as a description of the hadronic matter, it is seen that the dropping of the vector meson masses has its dominant contribution arising from the vacuum polarisation effects in the baryon sector hatsuda ; hatsuda1 ; jeans ; sourav . This drop is not observed in the mean field approximation. The vector meson properties vecmass  and their effects on the low mass dilepton spectra dlp  have been investigated recently including the quantum correction effects from the baryon as well as the scalar meson sectors in the Walecka model mishra .

In the present investigation we use the SU(3) chiral model paper3 ; springer  for the description of the hadronic matter. This model has been shown to successfully describe hadronic properties in the vacuum as well as nuclear matter, finite nuclei and neutron star properties. Furthermore the model consistently includes the lowest lying baryon and meson multiplets, including the vector mesons. In the mean field approximation the vector meson masses do not show any significant drop, similar to results in the Walecka model. The effect of the Dirac sea is taken into account by summing over baryonic tadpole diagrams in the relativistic Hartree approximation (RHA). It is seen that an appreciable decrease of the vector meson masses arises from the nucleon Dirac sea. This shows the importance of taking into account these contributions.

We organize the paper as follows: In section II we introduce the chiral $`SU(3)`$ model used in the present investigation. Section III describes the mean field approximation for nuclear matter. In section IV the nuclear matter properties are considered in the relativistic Hartree approximation. Section V gives the in-medium vector meson properties due to the contributions from the nucleon Dirac sea. The results are presented and discussed in section VI. Finally, in section VII we summarize the findings of the present work.

## II The hadronic chiral $`SU(3)\times SU(3)`$ model

We consider a relativistic field theoretical model of baryons and mesons built on chiral symmetry and broken scale invariance paper3 ; springer . A nonlinear realization of chiral symmetry is adopted, that has been successful in a simultaneous description of finite nuclei and hyperon potentials paper3 . The general form of the Lagrangian is as follows:

$$=_{\mathrm{kin}}+\underset{W=X,Y,V,𝒜,u}{}_{\mathrm{BW}}+_{\mathrm{VP}}+_{\mathrm{vec}}+_0+_{\mathrm{SB}}.$$

$`_{\mathrm{kin}}`$ is the kinetic energy term, $`_{\mathrm{BW}}`$ includes the interaction terms of the baryons with the spin-0 and spin-1 mesons, the former generating the baryon masses. $`_{\mathrm{VP}}`$ contains the interaction terms of vector mesons with pseudoscalar mesons. $`_{\mathrm{vec}}`$ generates the masses of the spin-1 mesons through interactions with spin-0 fields and contains quartic self-interactions of the vector-fields. $`_0`$ gives the meson-meson interaction terms which induce the spontaneous breaking of chiral symmetry. It also includes a scale-invariance breaking logarithmic potential. Finally, $`_{\mathrm{SB}}`$ introduces an explicit symmetry breaking of the U(1)A, SU(3)V and chiral symmetry.

### II.1 Kinetic Terms

The kinetic energy terms are given as paper3

$`_{kin}`$ $`=`$ $`i\mathrm{Tr}\overline{B}\gamma _\mu D^\mu B+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\mathrm{Tr}D_\mu XD^\mu X+\mathrm{Tr}(u_\mu Xu^\mu X+Xu_\mu u^\mu X)+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}\mathrm{Tr}D_\mu YD^\mu Y`$ (1)
$`+`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}D_\mu \chi D^\mu \chi {\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}\mathrm{Tr}\left(\stackrel{~}{V}_{\mu \nu }\stackrel{~}{V}^{\mu \nu }\right){\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}\mathrm{Tr}\left(F_{\mu \nu }F^{\mu \nu }\right){\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}\mathrm{Tr}\left(𝒜_{\mu \nu }𝒜^{\mu \nu }\right),`$
where $`B`$ is the baryon octet, $`X`$ is the scalar multiplet, $`Y`$ is the pseudoscalar chiral singlet, $`\stackrel{~}{V}^\mu `$ is the vector meson multiplet with field tensor $`\stackrel{~}{V}_{\mu \nu }=^\nu \stackrel{~}{V}^\mu ^\nu \stackrel{~}{V}^\mu `$, 111As described in section II.3, the vector mesons need to be renormalized. The physical fields will be denoted as $`V_\mu `$ and $`\rho _\mu ,\omega _\mu ,\varphi _\mu `$ respectively and the unrenormalized, mathematical fields as $`\stackrel{~}{V}_\mu `$ and $`\stackrel{~}{\rho }_\mu ,\stackrel{~}{\omega }_\mu ,\stackrel{~}{\varphi }`$. $`A_{\mu \nu }=^\nu A^\mu ^\nu A^\mu `$ is the axialvector field tensor, $`F_{\mu \nu }`$ is the electromagnetic field tensor and $`\chi `$ is the scalar, iso-scalar glueball-field. The kinetic energy term for the pseudoscalar mesons is given in terms of the axial vector $`u_\mu =\frac{i}{2}\left[u^{}_\mu uu_\mu u^{}\right]`$, where $`u=\mathrm{exp}\left[\frac{i}{2\sigma _0}\pi ^a\lambda _a\gamma _5\right]`$ is the unitary transformation operator paper3 . The pseudoscalar mesons are given as parameters of the symmetry transformation. Since the fields in the nonlinear realization of chiral symmetry contain the local unitary transformation operator, covariant derivatives $`D_\mu =_\mu +i[\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu ,],`$ with $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu =\frac{i}{2}\left[u^{}_\mu u+u_\mu u^{}\right]`$ have to be used to guarantee chiral invariance paper3 . E.g. for the baryons this yields

$$D_\mu B=_\mu B+i[\mathrm{\Gamma }_\mu ,B].$$
(2)
### II.2 Baryon-Meson interaction

The $`SU(3)`$ structure of the the baryon-meson interaction terms are the same for all mesons, except for the difference in Lorentz space. For a general meson field $`W`$ they read

$$_{BW}=\sqrt{2}g_8^W\left(\alpha _W[\overline{B}𝒪BW]_F+(1\alpha _W)[\overline{B}𝒪BW]_D\right)g_1^W\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}\mathrm{Tr}(\overline{B}𝒪B)\mathrm{Tr}W,$$
(3)
with $`[\overline{B}𝒪BW]_F:=\mathrm{Tr}(\overline{B}𝒪WB\overline{B}𝒪BW)`$ and $`[\overline{B}𝒪BW]_D:=\mathrm{Tr}(\overline{B}𝒪WB+\overline{B}𝒪BW)\frac{2}{3}\mathrm{Tr}(\overline{B}𝒪B)\mathrm{Tr}W`$. The different terms to be considered are those for the interaction of baryons with scalar mesons ($`W=X,𝒪=1`$), with vector mesons ($`W=\stackrel{~}{V}_\mu ,𝒪=\gamma _\mu `$ for the vector and $`W=\stackrel{~}{V}_{\mu \nu },𝒪=\sigma ^{\mu \nu }`$ for the tensor interaction), with axial vector mesons ($`W=𝒜_\mu ,𝒪=\gamma _\mu \gamma _5`$) and with pseudoscalar mesons ($`W=u_\mu ,𝒪=\gamma _\mu \gamma _5`$), respectively. In the following we discuss the relevant couplings for the current investigation.

#### II.2.1 Baryon - scalar meson interaction (Baryon Masses)

The baryons and the scalar mesons transform equally in the left and right subspaces. Therefore, in contrast to the linear realization of chiral symmetry, an $`f`$-type coupling is allowed for the baryon meson interaction. In addition, it is possible to construct mass terms for baryons and to couple them to chiral singlets. After insertion of the vacuum expectation value for the scalar multiplet matrix $`X_0`$, one obtains the baryon masses as generated by the VEV of the non-strange $`\sigma \overline{u}u+\overline{d}d`$ and the strange $`\zeta \overline{s}s`$ scalar fields paper3 . Here we will consider the limit $`\alpha _S=1`$ and $`g_1^S=\sqrt{6}g_8^S`$. In this case the nucleon mass does depend only on the nonstrange condensate $`\sigma `$. Furthermore, the coupling constants between the baryons and the two scalar condensates are related to the additive quark model. This leaves only one coupling constant free that is adjusted to give the correct nucleon mass paper3 . For a fine-tuning of the remaining masses, it is necessary to introduce an explicit symmetry breaking term, which breaks the SU(3)-symmetry along the hypercharge direction (for details see paper3 ). Therefore the resulting baryon octet masses for the current investigation read:

$`m_N`$ $`=`$ $`g_{N\sigma }\sigma _0`$
$`m_\mathrm{\Lambda }`$ $`=`$ $`g_{N\sigma }\left({\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}}\sigma _0{\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}}\sqrt{2}\zeta _0\right)+{\displaystyle \frac{m_1+2m_2}{3}}`$
$`m_\mathrm{\Sigma }`$ $`=`$ $`g_{N\sigma }\left({\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}}\sigma _0{\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}}\sqrt{2}\zeta _0\right)+m_1`$
$`m_\mathrm{\Xi }`$ $`=`$ $`g_{N\sigma }\left({\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}}\sigma _0{\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}}\sqrt{2}\zeta _0\right)+m_1+m_2.`$ (4)
Alternative ways of mass generation have also been considered earlier paper3 .

#### II.2.2 Baryon - vector meson interaction

Two independent interaction terms of baryons with spin-1 mesons can be constructed in analogy with the baryon-spin-0-meson interaction. They correspond to the antisymmetric ($`f`$-type) and symmetric ($`d`$-type) couplings, respectively. The general couplings are shown in paper3 . From the universality principle saku69  and the vector meson dominance model one may conclude that the $`d`$-type coupling should be small. Here we will use pure $`f`$-type coupling, i.e. $`\alpha _V=1`$ for all fits, even though a small admixture of d-type coupling allows for some fine-tuning of the single particle energy levels of nucleons in nuclei (see paper3 ). As for the case with scalar mesons, we furthermore set $`g_1^V=\sqrt{6}g_8^V`$, so that the strange vector field $`\stackrel{~}{\varphi }_\mu \overline{s}\gamma _\mu s`$ does not couple to the nucleon. The resulting Lagrangian reads:

$$_{BV}=\sqrt{2}g_8^V\left([\overline{B}\gamma _\mu B\stackrel{~}{V}^\mu ]_F+\mathrm{Tr}(\overline{B}\gamma _\mu B)\mathrm{Tr}\stackrel{~}{V}^\mu \right),$$
(5)
or explicitly written out for the nuclear matter case:

$$_{BV}^N=3g_8^V\stackrel{~}{\omega }_\mu \overline{\psi _N}\gamma _\mu \psi _N+g_8^V\stackrel{~}{\stackrel{}{\rho }_\mu }\overline{\psi _N}\gamma _\mu \stackrel{}{\tau }\psi _N.$$
(6)
Note that in this limit all coupling constants are fixed once $`g_8^V`$ is specified paper3 . This is done by fitting the nucleon-$`\omega `$ coupling to the energy density at nuclear matter saturation ($`E/A=16`$ MeV). Since we consider nuclear matter, the couplings of the vector mesons to the hyperons shall not be discussed here.

### II.3 Meson-meson interactions

#### II.3.1 Vector mesons

The vector meson-meson interactions contain the mass terms of the vector mesons and higher order vector meson self-interactions. The simplest scale invariant mass term is

$$_{vec}^{(1)}=\frac{1}{2}m_V^2\frac{\chi ^2}{\chi _0^2}\mathrm{Tr}\stackrel{~}{V}_\mu \stackrel{~}{V}^\mu .$$
(7)
It implies a mass degeneracy for the vector meson nonet. The scale invariance is assured by the square of the glueball field $`\chi `$ (see sec. II.3.2 for details). To split the masses, one can add the chiral invariants gasi69 ; mitt68

$$_{vec}^{(2)}=\frac{1}{4}\mu \mathrm{Tr}\left[\stackrel{~}{V}_{\mu \nu }\stackrel{~}{V}^{\mu \nu }X^2\right]$$
(8)
and

$$_{vec}^{(3)}=\frac{1}{12}\lambda _V\left(\mathrm{Tr}\left[\stackrel{~}{V}_{\mu \nu }\right]\right)^2.$$
(9)
Note that in 8, we replace the scalar multiplet $`X`$ by its vacuum expectation value. Combining the contributions (8,9) with the kinetic energy term (1), one obtains the following terms for the vector mesons in the vacuum

$`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}Z_\rho ^1\left(\stackrel{~}{V}_{\stackrel{~}{\rho }}^{\mu \nu }\right)^2{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}Z_\omega ^1\left(\stackrel{~}{V}_{\stackrel{~}{\omega }}^{\mu \nu }\right)^2{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}Z_\varphi ^1\left(\stackrel{~}{V}_{\stackrel{~}{\varphi }}^{\mu \nu }\right)^2,`$ (10)
with e.g. $`\stackrel{~}{V}_{\stackrel{~}{\rho }}^{\mu \nu }=^\mu \stackrel{~}{\rho }^\nu ^\nu \stackrel{~}{\rho }^\mu `$. With the renormalization constants the new vector meson fields are defined as $`\rho =Z_\rho ^{1/2}\stackrel{~}{\rho }`$, $`\omega =Z_\omega ^{1/2}\stackrel{~}{\omega }`$, $`\varphi =Z_\varphi ^{1/2}\stackrel{~}{\varphi }`$. Explicitly the renormalization constants are given as

$`Z_\rho ^1=\left(1\mu {\displaystyle \frac{\sigma _0^2}{2}}\right);Z_{\omega ,\varphi }^1=\left[\left(1{\displaystyle \frac{\mu (\sigma _0^2+2\xi _0^2)2\lambda _V}{4}}\right)\pm {\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}D^{1/2}\right]`$ (11)
where

$$D=\frac{\mu ^2}{4}(\sigma _0^22\xi _0^2)^2+\lambda _V^2\frac{\lambda _V}{3}\mu (\sigma _0^22\xi _0^2).$$
(12)
Then the Lagrangian for the new fields in the vacuum reads

$`_{vec}^{vac}=`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}\left(\left(V_\rho ^{\mu \nu }\right)^2+\left(V_\omega ^{\mu \nu }\right)^2+\left(V_\varphi ^{\mu \nu }\right)^2\right)+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}{\displaystyle \frac{\chi ^2}{\chi _0^2}}\left(m_\rho ^2\rho ^2+m_\omega ^2\omega ^2+m_\varphi ^2\varphi ^2\right)`$ (13)
where

$$m_\rho ^2=Z_\rho m_V^2,m_\omega ^2=Z_\omega m_V^2,m_\varphi ^2=Z_\varphi m_V^2$$
(14)
denote the vector meson masses in the vacuum. Using $`m_V=687.33MeV`$, $`\mu \sigma _0^2=0.41`$ and $`\lambda _V=0.041`$, the correct $`\omega `$-, $`\rho `$\- and $`\varphi `$-masses are obtained. The vector meson self-interactions toki  read

$$_{vec}^{(4)}=2(\stackrel{~}{g}_4)^4\mathrm{Tr}(\stackrel{~}{V}_\mu \stackrel{~}{V}^\mu )^2.$$
(15)
The coupling of this self-interaction term is also modified by the redefinition of the fields. The redefined coupling corresponding to the quartic interaction for the $`\omega `$ field can be expressed in terms of the coupling $`\stackrel{~}{g}_4`$ of the term (15). This term gives a contribution to the vector-meson masses in the medium, i.e. for finite values of the $`\omega `$ or $`\rho `$-fields. The resulting expressions for the vector meson masses in the medium (isospin symmetric) are

$`m_{\omega }^{}{}_{}{}^{2}`$ $`=`$ $`m_\omega ^2+12g_4^4\omega ^2`$ (16)
$`m_{\rho }^{}{}_{}{}^{2}`$ $`=`$ $`m_\rho ^2+12g_4^4{\displaystyle \frac{Z_\rho }{Z_\omega }}\omega ^2`$ (17)
$`m_{\varphi }^{}{}_{}{}^{2}`$ $`=`$ $`m_\varphi ^2+24g_4^4{\displaystyle \frac{Z_\varphi ^2}{Z_\omega ^2}}\varphi ^2,`$ (18)
with $`g_4=\sqrt{Z_\omega }\stackrel{~}{g}_4`$ as the renormalized coupling. Since the quartic self-interaction contributes only in the medium, the coupling $`g_4`$ cannot be unambigiously fixed. It is fitted, so that the compressibility is in the desired region between $`200300\text{ MeV}`$ in the mean field approximation. Note that the $`N\omega `$ as well as the $`N\rho `$ \- couplings are also affected by the redefinition of the fields with the corresponding renormalised coupling constants as $`g_{N\omega }3g_V^8\sqrt{Z_\omega }`$ and $`g_{N\rho }g_V^8\sqrt{Z_\rho }`$.

#### II.3.2 Spin-0 Potential

In the nonlinear realization of chiral symmetry the couplings of scalar mesons $`X`$ and the pseudoscalar singlet $`Y`$ with each other are only governed by SU(3)V-symmetry. In this work we will use the same form of the potential as in the linear $`\sigma `$-model with $`U(1)_A`$ breaking, as described in paper3 . It reads

$`_0`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}k_0\chi ^2I_2+k_1(I_2)^2+k_2I_4+2k_3\chi I_3,`$ (19)
with $`I_2=\mathrm{Tr}(X+iY)^2`$, $`I_3=det(X+iY)`$ and $`I_4=\mathrm{Tr}(X+iY)^4`$. Furthermore $`\chi `$ denotes a scalar color-singlet gluon field. It is introduced to construct the model to satisfy the QCD trace anomaly, i.e. the nonvanishing of the trace of the energy-momentum tensor $`\theta _\mu ^\mu =\frac{\beta _{QCD}}{2g}𝒢_{\mu \nu }^a𝒢^{\mu \nu a}`$. Here, $`𝒢_{\mu \nu }^a`$ is the gluon field strength tensor of QCD.

All the terms in the Lagrangian are multiplied by appropriate powers of the glueball-field to obtain a dimension $`(\text{Mass})^4`$ in the fields. Then all coupling constants are dimensionless and therefore the model is scale invariant sche80 . Then, a scale breaking potential

$$_{\mathrm{scalebreak}}=\frac{1}{4}\chi ^4\mathrm{ln}\frac{\chi ^4}{\chi _0^4}+\frac{\delta }{3}\chi ^4\mathrm{ln}\frac{I_3}{detX_0}$$
(20)
is introduced. This yields $`\theta _\mu ^\mu =(1\delta )\chi ^4`$. By identifying the $`\chi `$-field with the gluon condensate and the choice $`\delta =6/33`$ for three flavors and three colors with $`\beta _{QCD}`$ as given by the one loop level, the correct trace anomaly is obtained. The first term in (20) corresponds to the contribution of the gluons and the second term describes the contribution from the quarks to the trace anomaly. Finally the term

$$_\chi =k_4\chi ^4$$
(21)
generates a phenomenologically consistent finite vacuum expectation value.

The parameters $`k_0`$,$`k_2`$ and $`k_4`$, are used to ensure an extremum in the vacuum for the $`\sigma `$-, $`\zeta `$\- and $`\chi `$-field equations, respectively. As for the remaining constants, $`k_3`$ is constrained by the $`\eta `$ and $`\eta ^{}`$-masses, which take the values $`m_\eta =520\text{ MeV}`$ and $`m_\eta ^{}=999\text{ MeV}`$ in all parameter sets. $`k_1`$ is fixed in the mean field fit with quartic vector meson interaction such that the effective nucleon mass at saturation density is around $`0.65m_N`$ and the $`\sigma `$-mass is of the order of 500 MeV. Then it is kept constant in all the other fits, since a change in $`k_1`$ yields quite a strong modification of the other coupling constants in the selfconsistency calculation. Since we want to focus on the influence of the Hartree terms, we try to keep everything else as less modified as possible.

Since the shift in the $`\chi `$ in the medium is rather small paper3 , we will in good approximation set $`\chi =\chi _0`$. We will refer to this case as the frozen glueball limit. The VEV of the gluon condensate, $`\chi _0`$, is fixed to fit the pressure $`p=0`$ at the saturation density $`\rho _0=0.15\mathrm{fm}^3`$.

### II.4 Explicitly broken chiral symmetry

In order to eliminate the Goldstone modes from a chiral effective theory, explicit symmetry breaking terms have to be introduced. Here, we again take the corresponding term of the linear $`\sigma `$-model

$$_{SB}=\frac{1}{2}\mathrm{Tr}A_p(M+M^{})=\mathrm{Tr}A_p\left(u(X+iY)u+u^{}(XiY)u^{}\right)$$
(22)
with $`A_p=1/\sqrt{2}\mathrm{diag}(m_\pi ^2f_\pi ,m_\pi ^2f_\pi ,2m_K^2f_Km_\pi ^2f_\pi )`$ and $`m_\pi =139`$ MeV, $`m_K=498`$ MeV. This choice for $`A_p`$ together with the constraints

$$\sigma _0=f_\pi \zeta _0=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}(2f_Kf_\pi ),$$
(23)
on the VEV on the scalar condensates assure that the PCAC-relations of the pion and kaon are fulfilled. With $`f_\pi =93.3`$ MeV and $`f_K=122`$ MeV we obtain $`\sigma _0=93.3`$ MeV and $`\zeta _0=106.56`$ MeV.

## III Mean Field approximation

The hadronic matter properties at finite density and temperature are studied in the mean-field approximation serot97 . Then the Lagrangian (II) becomes

$`_{BX}+_{BV}`$ $`=`$ $`\overline{\psi _N}[g_{N\omega }\gamma _0\omega +m_N^{}]\psi _N`$ (24)
$`_{vec}`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}m_\omega ^2{\displaystyle \frac{\chi ^2}{\chi _0^2}}\omega ^2+g_4^4\omega ^4`$ (25)
$`𝒱_0`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}k_0\chi ^2(\sigma ^2+\zeta ^2)k_1(\sigma ^2+\zeta ^2)^2k_2({\displaystyle \frac{\sigma ^4}{2}}+\zeta ^4)k_3\chi \sigma ^2\zeta `$ (26)
$`+`$ $`k_4\chi ^4+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}}\chi ^4\mathrm{ln}{\displaystyle \frac{\chi ^4}{\chi _0^4}}{\displaystyle \frac{\delta }{3}}\chi ^4\mathrm{ln}{\displaystyle \frac{\sigma ^2\zeta }{\sigma _0^2\zeta _0}}`$
$`𝒱_{SB}`$ $`=`$ $`\left({\displaystyle \frac{\chi }{\chi _0}}\right)^2\left[m_\pi ^2f_\pi \sigma +(\sqrt{2}m_K^2f_K{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}}m_\pi ^2f_\pi )\zeta \right],`$ (27)
where $`m_N^{}`$ is the effective mass of the nucleon. Only the scalar ($`_{BX}`$) and the vector meson terms ($`_{BV}`$) contribute to the baryon-meson interaction. For all other mesons, the expectation value vanishes in the mean-field approximation. Now it is straightforward to write down the expression for the thermodynamical potential of the grand canonical ensemble, $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$, per volume $`V`$ at a given chemical potential $`\mu `$ and at zero temperature:

$$\frac{\mathrm{\Omega }}{V}=_{vec}_0_{SB}𝒱_{vac}+\frac{\gamma _N}{(2\pi )^3}_0^{\sqrt{\mu _{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}}}d^3k[E_N^{}(k)\mu _N^{}]$$
(28)
The vacuum energy $`𝒱_{vac}`$ (the potential at $`\rho =0`$) has been subtracted in order to get a energy at $`\rho =0`$. The factor $`\gamma _N`$ denotes the fermionic spin-isospin degeneracy factor, and $`\gamma _N`$ =4 for symmetric nuclear matter. The single particle energy is $`E_N^{}(k)=\sqrt{k_N^2+m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}}`$ and the effective chemical potential reads $`\mu _N^{}=\mu _Ng_{N\omega }\omega `$.
The mesonic fields are determined by extremizing the thermodynamic potential. Since we use the frozen glueball approximation (i.e $`\chi =\chi _0`$), we have coupled equations only for the fields $`\sigma `$, $`\zeta `$ and $`\omega `$ in the selfconsistent calculation given as

$`{\displaystyle \frac{(\mathrm{\Omega }/V)}{\sigma }}`$ $`=`$ $`k_0\chi ^2\sigma 4k_1(\sigma ^2+\zeta ^2)\sigma 2k_2\sigma ^32k_3\chi \sigma \zeta 2{\displaystyle \frac{\delta \chi ^4}{3\sigma }}+`$ (29)
$`+`$ $`m_\pi ^2f_\pi +{\displaystyle \frac{m_N^{}}{\sigma }}\rho _N^s=0,`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{(\mathrm{\Omega }/V)}{\zeta }}`$ $`=`$ $`k_0\chi ^2\zeta 4k_1(\sigma ^2+\zeta ^2)\zeta 4k_2\zeta ^3k_3\chi \sigma ^2{\displaystyle \frac{\delta \chi ^4}{3\zeta }}+`$ (30)
$`+`$ $`\left[\sqrt{2}m_K^2f_K{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}}m_\pi ^2f_\pi \right]=0,`$
$`{\displaystyle \frac{(\mathrm{\Omega }/V)}{\omega }}`$ $`=`$ $`m_\omega ^2\omega 4g_4^4\omega ^3+g_{N\omega }\rho _N=0.`$ (31)
In the above, $`\rho _N^s`$ and $`\rho _N`$ are the scalar and vector densities for the nucleons, which can be calculated analytically for the case of $`T=0`$, yielding

$`\rho _N^s`$ $`=`$ $`\gamma _N{\displaystyle \frac{d^3k}{(2\pi )^3}\frac{m_N^{}}{E_N^{}}}={\displaystyle \frac{\gamma _Nm_N^{}}{4\pi ^2}}\left[k_{FN}E_{FN}^{}m_N^2\mathrm{ln}\left({\displaystyle \frac{k_{FN}+E_{FN}^{}}{m_N^{}}}\right)\right],`$ (32)
$`\rho _N`$ $`=`$ $`\gamma _N{\displaystyle _0^{k_{FN}}}{\displaystyle \frac{d^3k}{(2\pi )^3}}={\displaystyle \frac{\gamma _Nk_{FN}^3}{6\pi ^2}}.`$ (33)
The parameters of the model are constrained by symmetry relations, characteristics of the vacuum or nuclear matter properties. Table 1 summarizes the various constraints for the parameters within the Mean-Field approach.

## IV Relativistic Hartree Approximation

If we go from the Mean-Field to the Hartree approximation, additional terms in the grand canonical potential appear. These influence the energy, the pressure and the meson field equations. In the present work, we use the version of the chiral model with $`g_{N\zeta }=0`$, i.e. no coupling of the strange condensate to the nucleon. Hence additional terms will only appear due to summing over baryonic tadpole diagrams due to interaction with the scalar field $`\sigma `$, similar to as in the Walecka model. The additional contribution to the energy density is given as

$`\mathrm{\Delta }ϵ`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{\gamma _N}{16\pi ^2}}(m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{4}\mathrm{ln}\left({\displaystyle \frac{m_N^{}}{m_N}}\right)+m_N^3(m_Nm_N^{}){\displaystyle \frac{7}{2}}m_N^2(m_Nm_N^{})^2`$ (34)
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{13}{3}}m_N(m_Nm_N^{})^3{\displaystyle \frac{25}{12}}(m_Nm_N^{})^4),`$
where $`m_N^{}=g_{\sigma N}\sigma `$ and $`m_N`$ is the nucleon mass in vacuum. This will also modify the pressure and the $`\sigma `$ field equations. With inclusion of the relativistic Hartree contributions, the field equation for $`\sigma `$ as given by (29) gets modified to

$`k_0\chi ^2\sigma 4k_1(\sigma ^2+\zeta ^2)\sigma 2k_2\sigma ^32k_3\chi \sigma \zeta 2{\displaystyle \frac{\delta \chi ^4}{3\sigma }}+m_\pi ^2f_\pi +{\displaystyle \frac{m_N^{}}{\sigma }}(\rho _N^s+\mathrm{\Delta }\rho _N^s)=0,`$ (35)
where the additional contribution to the nucleon scalar density is given as

$$\mathrm{\Delta }\rho _N^s=\frac{\gamma _N}{4\pi ^2}\left[m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{3}\mathrm{ln}\left(\frac{m_N^{}}{m_N}\right)+m_N^2(m_Nm_N^{})\frac{5}{2}m_N(m_Nm_N^{})^2+\frac{11}{6}(m_Nm_N^{})^3\right].$$
(36)
These make a refitting of some of the parameters necessary. First we have to account for the change in the energy and the pressure, i.e. $`g_{N\omega }`$ and $`\chi _0`$ have to be refitted. Due to a change in $`\chi _0`$ the parameters $`k_0,k_2`$ and $`k_4`$ must be adapted to ensure that the vacuum equations for $`\sigma ,\zeta `$ and $`\chi `$ have minima at the vacuum expectation values of the fields. Table 2 shows the parameters corresponding to the the Mean-field and the Hartree approximations.

## V Vector meson properties in the medium

### V.1 In-medium vector meson masses

We now examine how the Dirac sea effects discussed in section IV modify the masses of the vector mesons. Rewriting the expression for the vector interaction of these mesons given in equation (5) in terms of the renormalized couplings $`g_{N\omega }`$ and $`g_{N\rho }`$ yields

$$_{BV}^N=g_{N\omega }\omega _\mu \overline{\psi _N}\gamma _\mu \psi _N+g_{N\rho }\stackrel{}{\rho }_\mu \overline{\psi _N}\gamma _\mu \stackrel{}{\tau }\psi _N.$$
(37)
Furthermore a tensor coupling is introduced:

$$_{\mathrm{tensor}}=\frac{g_{NV}\kappa _V}{2m_N}\left[\overline{\psi }_N\sigma _{\mu \nu }\tau ^a\psi _N^\nu V_a^\mu \right]$$
(38)
where $`(g_{NV},\kappa _V)=(g_{N\omega },\kappa _\omega )`$ or $`(g_{N\rho },\kappa _\rho )`$ and $`\tau _a=1`$ or $`\stackrel{}{\tau }`$, for $`V_a^\mu =\omega ^\mu `$ or $`\rho _a^\mu `$, $`\stackrel{}{\tau }`$ being the Pauli matrices. The vector meson self energy is given as

$$\mathrm{\Pi }_V^{\mu \nu }(k)=\gamma _Ig_{NV}^2\frac{i}{(2\pi )^4}d^4p\mathrm{Tr}\left[\mathrm{\Gamma }_V^\mu (k)G(p)\mathrm{\Gamma }_V^\nu (k)G(p+k)\right],$$
(39)
where $`\gamma _I=2`$ is the isospin degeneracy factor for nuclear matter, and, $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_V^\mu (k)=\gamma ^\mu \tau _a(\kappa _V/2m_N)\sigma ^{\mu \nu }\tau _a`$ represents the meson-nucleon vertex function. In the above, $`G(k)`$ is the interacting nucleon propagator resulting from summing over baryonic tadpole diagrams in the Hartree approximation. This is expressed, in terms of the Feynman and density dependent parts, as

$`G(k)`$ $`=`$ $`\left(\gamma _\mu \overline{k}^\mu +m_N^{}\right)\left[{\displaystyle \frac{1}{\overline{k}^2m_N^2+iϵ}}+{\displaystyle \frac{i\pi }{E_N^{}(k)}}\delta \left(\overline{k}^0E_N^{}(k)\right)\theta \left(k_F\left|\stackrel{}{\overline{k}}\right|\right)\right]`$ (40)
$``$ $`G_F(k)+G_D(k).`$
The vector meson self energy can then be written as the sum of two parts

$$\mathrm{\Pi }^{\mu \nu }=\mathrm{\Pi }_F^{\mu \nu }+\mathrm{\Pi }_D^{\mu \nu }.$$
(41)
In the above, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_F^{\mu \nu }`$ is the contribution arising from the vacuum fluctuation effects, described by the coupling to the $`N\overline{N}`$ excitations and $`\mathrm{\Pi }_D^{\mu \nu }`$ is the density dependent contribution to the vector self energy. For the $`\omega `$ meson, the tensor coupling is generally small as compared to the vector coupling to the nucleons hatsuda1 . This is neglected in the present calculations. The Feynman part of the self energy, $`\mathrm{\Pi }_F^{\mu \nu }`$, is divergent and needs renormalization. We use dimensional regularization to separate the divergent parts. For the $`\rho `$-meson with tensor interactions, a phenomenological subtraction procedure hatsuda ; hatsuda1  is adopted. After renormalisation, the contributions to the meson self energies from the Feynman part are given as follows. For the $`\omega `$ meson, one arrives at the expression

$$\mathrm{\Pi }_F^\omega (k^2)\frac{1}{3}\mathrm{Re}(\mathrm{\Pi }_F^{\mathrm{ren}})_\mu ^\mu =\frac{g_{N\omega }^2}{\pi ^2}k^2_0^1𝑑zz(1z)\mathrm{ln}\left[\frac{m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}k^2z(1z)}{m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}k^2z(1z)}\right].$$
(42)
and for the $`\rho `$ meson,

$$\mathrm{\Pi }_F^\rho (k^2)=\frac{g_{N\rho }^2}{\pi ^2}k^2\left[I_1+m_N^{}\frac{\kappa _\rho }{2m_N}I_2+\frac{1}{2}\left(\frac{\kappa _\rho }{2m_N}\right)^2(k^2I_1+m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}I_2)\right]$$
(43)
where,

$$I_1=_0^1𝑑zz(1z)\mathrm{ln}\left[\frac{m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}k^2z(1z)}{m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}k^2z(1z)}\right],I_2=_0^1𝑑z\mathrm{ln}\left[\frac{m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}k^2z(1z)}{m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2}k^2z(1z)}\right].$$
(44)
The density dependent part for the self energy is given as

$$\mathrm{\Pi }^D(k_0,𝒌0)=\frac{4g_{NV}^2}{\pi ^2}p^2𝑑pF(|𝒑|,m_N^{})\left[f_{FD}(\mu ^{},T)+\overline{f}_{FD}(\mu ^{},T)\right]$$
(45)
with

$`F(|𝒑|,m_N^{})`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{1}{ϵ^{}(p)(4ϵ^{}(p)^2k_0^2)}}[{\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}}(2|𝒑|^2+3m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2})+k_0^2\{2m_N^{}\left({\displaystyle \frac{\kappa _V}{2m_N}}\right)`$ (46)
$`+{\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}}\left({\displaystyle \frac{\kappa _V}{2m_N}}\right)^2(|𝒑|^2+3m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2})\}]`$
where $`ϵ^{}(p)=(𝒑^2+m_{N}^{}{}_{}{}^{2})^{1/2}`$ is the effective energy for the nucleon. The effective mass of the vector meson is then obtained by solving the equation, with $`\mathrm{\Pi }=\mathrm{\Pi }_F+\mathrm{\Pi }_D`$,

$$k_0^2m_V^2+\mathrm{Re}\mathrm{\Pi }(k_0,𝒌=0)=0.$$
(47)
### V.2 Meson decay properties

We next proceed to study the vector meson decay widths as modified due to the effect of vacuum polarisation effects through RHA. The decay width for the process $`\rho \pi \pi `$ is calculated from the imaginary part of the self energy and in the rest frame of the $`\rho `$-meson, it becomes

$$\mathrm{\Gamma }_\rho (k_0)=\frac{g_{\rho \pi \pi }^2}{48\pi }\frac{(k_0^24m_\pi ^2)^{3/2}}{k_0^2}\left[\left(1+f(\frac{k_0}{2})\right)\left(1+f(\frac{k_0}{2})\right)f(\frac{k_0}{2})f(\frac{k_0}{2})\right]$$
(48)
where, $`f(x)=[e^{\beta x}1]^1`$ is the Bose-Einstein distribution function. The first and the second terms in the above equation represent the decay and the formation of the resonance, $`\rho `$. The medium effects have been shown to play a very important role for the $`\rho `$-meson decay width. In the calculation for the $`\rho `$ decay width, the pion has been treated as free, i.e. any modification of the pion propagator due to effects like delta-nucleon hole excitation asakawa  have been neglected. The coupling $`g_{\rho \pi \pi }`$ is fixed from the decay width of $`\rho `$ meson in vacuum ($`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\rho `$=151 MeV) decaying into two pions.

For the nucleon-rho couplings, the vector and tensor couplings as obtained from the N-N forward dispersion relation hatsuda1 ; sourav ; grein  are used. With the couplings as described above, we consider the modification of $`\omega `$ and $`\rho `$ meson properties in nuclear matter due to quantum correction effects.

To calculate the decay width for the $`\omega `$-meson, we consider the following interaction Lagrangian for the $`\omega `$ meson sakurai ; gellmann ; bali

$$_\omega =\frac{g_{\omega \pi \rho }}{m_\pi }ϵ_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }^\mu \omega ^\nu ^\alpha \rho _i^\beta \pi _i+\frac{g_{\omega 3\pi }}{m_\pi ^3}ϵ_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }ϵ_{ijk}\omega ^\mu ^\nu \pi ^i^\alpha \pi ^j^\beta \pi ^k.$$
(49)
The decay width of the $`\omega `$-meson in vacuum is dominated by the channel $`\omega 3\pi `$. In the medium, the decay width for $`\omega 3\pi `$ is given as

$`\mathrm{\Gamma }_{\omega 3\pi }`$ $`=`$ $`{\displaystyle \frac{(2\pi )^4}{2k_0}}{\displaystyle d^3\stackrel{~}{p}_1d^3\stackrel{~}{p}_2d^3\stackrel{~}{p}_3\delta ^{(4)}(Pp_1p_2p_3)|M_{fi}|^2}`$ (50)
$`\left[(1+f(E_1))(1+f(E_2))(1+f(E_3))f(E_1)f(E_2)f(E_3)\right],`$
where $`d^3\stackrel{~}{p}_i=\frac{d^3p_i}{(2\pi )^32E_i}`$, $`p_i`$ and $`E_i`$’s are 4-momenta and energies for the pions, and $`f(E_i)`$’s are their thermal distributions. The matrix element $`M_{fi}`$ has contributions from the channels $`\omega \rho \pi 3\pi `$ (described by the first term in (49)) and the direct decay $`\omega 3\pi `$ resulting from the contact interaction (second term in (49)) bali ; weisezp ; kaymak . For the $`\omega \rho \pi `$ coupling we take the value $`g_{\omega \rho \pi }`$ =2 which is compatible to the vacuum decay width $`\omega \pi \gamma `$ sourav . We fix the point interaction coupling $`g_{\omega 3\pi }`$ by fitting the partial decay width $`\omega 3\pi `$ in vacuum (7.49 MeV) to be 0.24. The contribution arising from the direct decay turns out to be marginal, being of the order of upto 5% of the total decay width for $`\omega 3\pi `$.

With the modifications of the vector meson masses in the hot and dense medium, a new channel becomes accessible, the decay mode $`\omega \rho \pi `$ for $`m_\omega ^{}>m_\rho ^{}+m_\pi `$. This has been taken into account in the present investigation.

## VI Results and Discussions

We shall now discuss the results of the present investigation: the nucleon properties as modified due to the Dirac sea contributions through the relativistic Hartree approximation and their effects on vector meson properties in the dense hadronic matter. Figure 1 shows the equation of state in the Mean-Field- and in the Hartree-approximation with and without quartic self-interaction for the $`\omega `$-field. In both cases we observe that the additional terms resulting from the Hartree approximation lead to a softening of the equation of state at higher densities. However, the compressibilty in the relativistic Hartree-approximation is higher than the mean-field value, as shown in table 2. Furthermore, the influence of the finite value for the quartic $`\omega `$ coupling, $`g_4`$ is clearly visible. In this case the compressibility at nuclear saturation is strongly reduced (table 2). Also, the resulting equation of state is much softer in particular at higher densities. The reason for this can be seen from figure 2. The vector field $`\omega `$, which causes the repulsion in the system, rises much more steeply as a function of density for $`g_4=0`$ than for the case of $`g_4=2.7`$, because the quartic self-interaction attenuates the $`\omega `$-field.

The effective nucleon mass for the different cases is depicted in figure 3. Here the RHA predicts higher nucleon masses than the Mean-Field case. At higher densities these contributions become increasingly important.

This is also reflected in the density dependence of the non-strange $`\sigma `$ field, showing a considerable increase due to the Hartree contributions (figure2). In contrast, the strange condensate, $`\zeta `$, which does not couple to the nucleons, takes only slightly lower values in the MF-case. The in-medium properties of the vector mesons are modified due to the vacuum polarization effects. The nucleon-$`\omega `$ vector coupling, $`g_{N\omega }`$, is calculated from the nuclear matter saturation properties. As already stated, the N-$`\omega `$ tensor coupling is neglected. Figure 4 shows the resulting modification of the $`\omega `$–meson mass in the Hartree approximation as compared to the mean field case. For $`g_4=0`$, the $`\omega `$ mass has no density dependence, because of the frozen glueball approximation. In contrast, a strong reduction due to the Dirac sea polarization is found for densities up to around normal nuclear matter density. At higher densities, the Fermi polarization part of the $`\omega `$-self-energy starts to become important, leading to an increase in the mass. A similar behaviour has been observed in the Walecka model hatsuda ; hatsuda1 ; jeans . The quartic term in the $`\omega `$-field considerably enhances the $`\omega `$ mass with increasing density. Thus in the mean field case, the mass rises monotonically. For the Hartree approximation a decrease of the $`\omega `$ mass for small densities can still be found. But at higher densities the contribution from the quartic term becomes more important and leads to an increase of the in-medium mass.

In figure 5, we illustrate the medium modification for the $`\rho `$ meson mass with the vector and tensor couplings to the nucleons being fixed from the NN forward dispersion relation hatsuda1 ; sourav ; grein . The values for these couplings are given as $`g_{N\rho }^2/4\pi `$=0.55 and $`\kappa _\rho `$=6.1. We notice that the decrease in the $`\rho `$ meson with increasing density is much sharper than that of the $`\omega `$ meson. Such a behaviour of the $`\rho `$ meson undergoing a much larger medium modification was also observed earlier sourav  within the relativistic Hartree approximation in the Walecka model. This indicates that the tensor coupling, which is negligible for the $`\omega `$ meson, plays a significant role for the $`\rho `$ meson.

The in-medium decay width for $`\rho \pi \pi `$, $`\mathrm{\Gamma }_\rho ^{}`$ reflects the behaviour of the in-medium $`\rho `$ mass. This is because in the present work only the case $`T=0`$ is considered, and so there is no Bose-enhancement effect. Therefore in the absence of the quartic vector-meson interaction, the significant drop of the mass of the $`\rho `$ meson in the medium leads to a decrease of the $`\rho `$ decay width. This is shown in figure 6. Since the quartic self-interaction yields an increase in the mass at higher densities, it leads to an increase of the $`\rho `$ decay width.

In the previous calculations, the $`\rho `$-N coupling strengths were used as determined from the NN forward scattering data grein . Now we consider the mass modification for the $`\rho `$ meson, with the nucleon $`\rho `$ coupling, $`g_{N\rho }`$ as determined from the symmetry relations (table 2). The symmetry energy coefficient $`a_{sym}`$ is given as sym

$$a_{sym}=\frac{1}{2}\left[\frac{^2}{t^2}\left(\frac{ϵ}{\rho }\right)\right]_{t=0},$$
(51)
where $`t=\frac{\rho _n\rho _p}{\rho _0}`$. The resulting values for the symmetry energy for the different cases are shown in table 2. They are compatible with the experiment. We take the tensor coupling as a parameter in our calculations since this coupling cannot be fixed from infinite nuclear matter properties. However, it influences the properties of finite nuclei. The resulting in-medium mass of the $`\rho `$ meson is plotted in figure 7 as a function of baryon density $`\rho _B/\rho _0`$. It is observed that the $`\rho `$ meson mass has a strong dependence on the tensor coupling. In the Hartree approximation the $`\rho `$-nucleon vector coupling does not differ too much in the two cases, i.e. depending on whether it is obtained fromm NN scattering data or from the symmetry relations. Thus we find a similar behaviour for the $`\rho `$ mass, if in the latter case we choose $`\kappa _\rho =6`$, i.e. close to the value from scattering data.

Figure 8 shows the decay width for the $`\rho `$ meson when we take the $`N\rho `$ vector coupling as determined from symmetry relations and the tensor coupling taken as a parameter.

The decay width of the $`\omega `$ meson is plotted as a function of density in figure 9. In the vacuum the process $`\omega 3\pi `$ is the dominant decay mode. However, in the medium the channel $`\omega \rho \pi `$ also opens up, since the $`\rho `$-meson has a stronger drop in the medium as compared to the $`\omega `$ meson mass.

The mean field approximation, does not have a contribution from the latter decay channel, whereas the inclusion of relativistic Hartree approximation permits both processes in the medium. In the presence of the quartic vector meson interaction, the channel $`\omega \rho \pi `$, which opens up at around $`0.3\rho _0`$, no longer remains kinematically accessible at higher densities. This is due to the increased importance of $`\omega ^4`$ contributions to the vector meson masses at high densities.

The strong enhancement of the $`\omega `$ meson mass in the presence of a quartic self interaction term for the $`\omega `$ field, makes also the decay channel $`\omega N\overline{N}`$ kinematically accessible in the mean field approximation. In the present investigation the vector meson properties are considered at rest. Vector mesons with a finite three momentum can also have additional decay channels to particle hole pairs. These decay modes, e.g, have significant contributions, to the $`\mathrm{\Delta }`$ decay width delta . Additional channels that open up in the mean field approximation in the presence of a quartic term for $`\omega `$, however, have not been taken into consideration in the present work. Here the emphasis is on the effect due to the relativistic Hartree approximation on the in-medium vector meson properties.

Figure 10 illustrates the decay width of the $`\omega `$-meson when the medium dependence of the $`\rho N`$ vector coupling is taken into account and the tensor coupling is taken as a parameter. The strong dependence of the $`\rho `$ meson properties on the tensor coupling are reflected in the $`\omega `$\- decay width through the channel $`\omega \rho \pi `$.

## VII Summary

To summarize, in the present paper we have considered the modification of the vector meson properties due to vacuum polarisation effects arising from the Dirac sea in nuclear matter in the chiral SU(3) model. The baryonic properties as modified due to such effects determine the vector meson masses in dense hadronic matter. A significant reduction of these masses in the medium is found, where the Dirac sea contribution dominates over the Fermi sea part. This shows the importance of the vacuum polarisation effects for the vector meson properties, as has been emphasized earlier within the framework of Quantum Hadrodynamics hatsuda1 ; jeans .

The $`\rho `$-meson mass is seen to have a sharper drop as compared to the $`\omega `$-meson mass in the medium. This reflects the fact that the vector meson-nucleon tensor coupling, which is absent for the $`\omega `$-meson, plays an important role for the $`\rho `$-mass. The decay width of $`\rho \pi \pi `$ is modified appreciably due to the modification of the $`\rho `$ mass.

The effects discussed above influence observables in finite nuclei, stellar objects and relativistic heavy ion collisions. For example the modified vector meson properties in a medium play an important role in the dilepton emission rates in relativistic heavy ion collisions gale . This is reflected by the shift and broadening of the peaks in the low invariant mass regime in the dilepton spectra. Therefore, it will be important to investigate how the dilepton rates are modified by the in-medium vector meson properties in the hot and dense hadronic matter. This necessitates the extension of the current work to finite temperatures. Furthermore, it will be worthwhile to study, how the analysis of particle ratios for relativistic heavy ion collisions in zsch02  is affected by the Hartree contributions. These and related problems are under investigation.

###### Acknowledgements.

One of the authors (AM) is grateful to J. Reinhardt for fruitful discussions and Institut fuer Theoretische Physik for warm hospitality. This work is supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI), Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), the Graduiertenkolleg Theoretische und Experimentelle Schwerionenphysik and by the U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics Division (Contract No. W-31-109-Eng-38).