  Using the two-loop approximation of chiral perturbation theory, we calculate
the momentum and density dependent isovector nuclear spin-orbit strength
$V_{ls}(p,k_f)$. This quantity is derived from the spin-dependent part of the
interaction energy $\Sigma_{spin} = {i\over 2} \vec \sigma \cdot (\vec q
\times\vec p)[U_{ls}(p,k_f)- V_{ls}(p,k_f)\tau_3 \delta] $ of a nucleon
scattering off weakly inhomogeneous isospin-asymmetric nuclear matter. We find
that iterated $1\pi$-exchange generates at saturation density, $k_{f0}=272.7
$MeV, an isovector nuclear spin-orbit strength at $p=0$ of $V_{ls}(0,k_{f0})
\simeq 50$ MeVfm$^2$. This value is about 1.4 times the analogous isoscalar
nuclear spin-orbit strength $U_{ls}(0,k_{f0})\simeq 35$ MeVfm$^2$ generated by
the same two-pion exchange diagrams. We also calculate several relativistic
1/M-corrections to the isoscalar nuclear spin-orbit strength. In particular, we
evaluate the contributions from irreducible two-pion exchange to
$U_{ls}(p,k_f)$. The effects of the three-body diagrams constructed from the
Weinberg-Tomozawa $\pi\pi NN$-contact vertex on the isoscalar nuclear
spin-orbit strength are computed. We find that such relativistic
1/M-corrections are less than 20% of the isoscalar nuclear spin-orbit strength
generated by iterated one-pion-exchange, in accordance with the expectation
from chiral power counting.

Nuclear Theory