Non-mesonic decay modes of hypernuclei

The present status of theoretical decritptions of non-mesonic (ΛN->NN) decay modes of hypernuclei is reviewed. One model, which evaluates a strangeness-changing, parity-violating weak interaction ''potential'' in nuclear matter, is examined in detail to exemplify the physics which can be learned and the problem which must be confronted. The importance of measuring the different isospin decay channels and seperating the parity-conserving and parity-violating modes is stressed. Finally, this model is briefly compared with other existing calculations. (orig.)