IMPORTANCE OF THE π-FIELD IN THE RELATIVISTIC MEAN FIELD THEORY FOR NUCLEAR MATTER

We generalize the Walecka model for nuclear matter by including the π-field. It is found that a finite mean π-field may lower the energy per nucleon even in the nuclear matter of subnormal density. A mean π-field may significantly change the nuclear equation of state. The importance of considering the π-field in the relativistic mean field theory for nuclear matter is therefore emphasized.