Jefferson Lab experiment E12-15-008: high precision spectroscopy of 40K and 48K single-Lambda hypernuclei

Nuclear matter containing strangeness is thought to play an important role in stellar objects like neutron stars. Models predicting the appearance of Lambda hyperons with increasing density set an upper limit on the mass of neutron stars. This is challenged by recent observations of neutron stars with masses around two solar masses. A repulsive three body Lambda NN force could delay the onset of hyperonization and, thus, support more massive systems. The Jefferson Lab experiment E12-15-008 will address this question by studying the isospin dependence of the Lambda-Nucleon interaction through the high precision spectroscopy of 40K and 48K single-Lambda hypernuclei. I will briefly explain the theoretical motivation and then present the planned experimental program.