HYPERNUCLEI- THE NEXT DECADE∗

We are at the verge of a new impact from hypernuclear experiments planned or already operative at various laboratories all over the world. The complementary of these different experimental approaches to hypernuclei provides a wide basis for a comprehensive understanding of strange hadrons in cold hadronic matter. High precision studies of light Λ hypernuclei, spectroscopy of double ΛΛ nuclei and the properties of antihyperons in nuclei are examples for the outstanding challenges for hypernuclei research in the next decade. PACS numbers: 21.80,25.30,25.43 1. Bridging the gap between quarks and stars In the early years of nuclear physics research the composition of an atomic nucleus in terms of protons and neutrons, its structure and basic properties were in the spotlight. Studies were focused on the nature of ra-dioactive decays, nuclear reactions, and the synthesis of new elements and isotopes. Nowadays a nucleus is seen as a system of quarks and gluons that arrange themselves into protons and neutrons. As a consequence the scope of nuclear science has broadened and extends from the today’s fundamental particles- quarks and gluons- to the most spectacular of cosmic events like supernova explosions. Remnants of these cosmic catastrophes are neutron stars that have a core density about ten times higher than normal nuclei. The properties of quarks and gluons are reasonable well understood and ∗ Supported by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (bmb+f) unde