Mirror displacement energies and neutron skins

A gross estimate of the neutron skin [0.80(5)$(N-Z)/A$ fm] is extracted from experimental proton radii, represented by a four parameter fit, and observed mirror displacement energies (CDE). The calculation of the latter relies on an accurately derived Coulomb energy and smooth averages of the charge symmetry breaking potentials constrained to state of the art values. The only free parameter is the neutron skin itself. The Nolen Schiffer anomaly is reduced to small deviations (rms=127 keV) that exhibit a secular trend. It is argued that with state of the art shell model calculations the anomaly should disappear. Highly accurate fits to proton radii emerge as a fringe benefit.Comment: 4 pages 3 figures, superseeds first part of nucl-th/0104048 Present is new extended version: 5 pages 4 figures. Explains more clearly the achievements of the previous on

A study of randomness, correlations and collectivity in the nuclear shell model

A variable combination of realistic and random two-body interactions allows the study of collective properties, such as the energy spectra and B(E2) transition strengths in 44Ti, 48Cr and 24Mg. It is found that the average energies of the yrast band states maintain the ordering for any degree of randomness, but the B(E2) values lose their quadrupole collectivity when randomness dominates the Hamiltonian. The high probability of the yrast band to be ordered in the presence of pure random forces exhibits the strong correlations between the different members of the band.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figures, 8 tables, submitted to Physical Review

Chiral three-nucleon forces and bound excited states in neutron-rich oxygen isotopes

We study the spectra of neutron-rich oxygen isotopes based on chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions. First, we benchmark our many-body approach by comparing ground-state energies to coupled-cluster results for the same two-nucleon interaction, with overall good agreement. We then calculate bound excited states in 21,22,23O, focusing on the role of three-nucleon forces, in the standard sd shell and an extended sdf7/2p3/2 valence space. Chiral three-nucleon forces provide important one- and two-body contributions between valence neutrons. We find that both these contributions and an extended valence space are necessary to reproduce key signatures of novel shell evolution, such as the N = 14 magic number and the low-lying states in 21O and 23O, which are too compressed with two-nucleon interactions only. For the extended space calculations, this presents first work based on nuclear forces without adjustments. Future work is needed and open questions are discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, published versio

Experimental evidence for 56Ni-core breaking from the low-spin structure of the N=Z nucleus 58Cu

Low-spin states in the odd-odd N=Z nucleus 58Cu were investigated with the 58Ni(p,n gamma)58Cu fusion evaporation reaction at the FN-tandem accelerator in Cologne. Seventeen low spin states below 3.6 MeV and 17 new transitions were observed. Ten multipole mixing ratios and 17 gamma-branching ratios were determined for the first time. New detailed spectroscopic information on the 2+,2 state, the Isobaric Analogue State (IAS) of the 2+,1,T=1 state of 58Ni, makes 58Cu the heaviest odd-odd N=Z nucleus with known B(E2;2+,T=1 --> 0+,T=1) value. The 4^+ state at 2.751 MeV, observed here for the first time, is identified as the IAS of the 4+,1,T=1 state in 58Ni. The new data are compared to full pf-shell model calculations with the novel GXPF1 residual interaction and to calculations within a pf5/2 configurational space with a residual surface delta interaction. The role of the 56Ni core excitations for the low-spin structure in 58Cu is discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The nuclear energy density functional formalism

The present document focuses on the theoretical foundations of the nuclear energy density functional (EDF) method. As such, it does not aim at reviewing the status of the field, at covering all possible ramifications of the approach or at presenting recent achievements and applications. The objective is to provide a modern account of the nuclear EDF formalism that is at variance with traditional presentations that rely, at one point or another, on a {\it Hamiltonian-based} picture. The latter is not general enough to encompass what the nuclear EDF method represents as of today. Specifically, the traditional Hamiltonian-based picture does not allow one to grasp the difficulties associated with the fact that currently available parametrizations of the energy kernel $E[g',g]$ at play in the method do not derive from a genuine Hamilton operator, would the latter be effective. The method is formulated from the outset through the most general multi-reference, i.e. beyond mean-field, implementation such that the single-reference, i.e. "mean-field", derives as a particular case. As such, a key point of the presentation provided here is to demonstrate that the multi-reference EDF method can indeed be formulated in a {\it mathematically} meaningful fashion even if $E[g',g]$ does {\it not} derive from a genuine Hamilton operator. In particular, the restoration of symmetries can be entirely formulated without making {\it any} reference to a projected state, i.e. within a genuine EDF framework. However, and as is illustrated in the present document, a mathematically meaningful formulation does not guarantee that the formalism is sound from a {\it physical} standpoint. The price at which the latter can be enforced as well in the future is eventually alluded to.Comment: 64 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Euroschool Lecture Notes in Physics Vol.IV, Christoph Scheidenberger and Marek Pfutzner editor

Quadrupole dominance in light Cd and Sn isotopes

Shell model calculations with the neutron effective charge as single free parameter describe well the \bet and \bef rates for $N\le 64$ in the Cd and Sn isotopes. The former exhibit weak permanent deformation corroborating the prediction of a pseudo SU3 symmetry, which remains of heuristic value in the latter, though the pairing force erodes the quadrupole dominance. Calculations in $10^7$ and $10^{10}$-dimensional spaces exhibit almost identical patterns: A vindication of the shell model. For $N\ge 64$ quadrupole dominance is accentuated in the Cd isotopes and gives way to seniority dominance for the Sn isotopes

Quadrupole dominance in the light Sn and in the Cd isotopes

International audienceBackground: The B(E2:21+→01+) of the Sn isotopes for N≤64 exhibit enhancements hitherto unexplained. The same is true for all the Cd isotopes. Purpose: To describe the electromagnetic properties of the Sn and Cd isotopes. Method: Shell-model calculations are performed with a minimally renormalized realistic interaction, supplemented by quasi- and pseudo-SU3 symmetries and Nilsson-SU3 self-consistent calculations. Special care is devoted to the monopole part of the Hamiltonian. Results: (1) Shell-model calculations with the neutron effective charge as single free parameter describe well the B(E2:21+→01+) and B(E2:41+→21+) rates for N≤64 in the Cd and Sn isotopes. The former exhibit weak permanent deformation corroborating the prediction of a pseudo-SU3 symmetry, which remains of heuristic value in the latter, where the pairing force erodes the quadrupole dominance. Calculations in 107- and 1010-dimensional spaces exhibit almost identical B(E2) behavior: A vindication of the shell model. (2) Nilsson-SU3 calculations describe B(E2:21+→01+) patterns in Cd112–120 and Sn116–118 isotopes having sizable quadrupole moment of non-rotational origin denoted as q vibrations. Conclusion: A radical reexamination of traditional interpretations in the region has been shown to be necessary, in which approximate symmetries involving the quadrupole force and a high quality monopole Hamiltonian play a major role. What emerges is a bumpy but coherent view

Shell formation and nuclear masses

International audienceWe describe the basic mechanisms responsible for nuclear bulk properties and shell formation incorporated in the Duflo Zuker models. The emphasis is put on explaining why functionals of the occupancies can be so efficient in accounting for data with minimal computational effor