Coulomb corrections to Fermi beta decay in nuclei

We study the influence of the Coulomb force on the Fermi beta-decays in nuclei. This work is composed of two main parts. In the first part, we calculate the Coulomb corrections to super-allowed beta decay. We use the notion of the isovector monopole state and the self-consistent charge-exchange Random Phase Approximation to compute the correction. In the second part of this work, we examine the influence of the anti-analog state on isospin mixing in the isobaric analog state and the correction to the beta-decay Fermi transition.Comment: Some numerical mistakes were corrected. The present version matches the online version published in NP

Dipole resonances and the nuclear Schiff moment

The nuclear Schiff moment creates a mechanism of transfer of the violation of parity and time-reversal invariance by weak interaction in nuclei into the atomic electric dipole moment. We point out an additional contribution to the Schiff moment generated by the mixing of single-particle states through the low-lying nuclear dipole resonances. An estimate shows that this contribution is by order of magnitude comparable to single-particle contributions and can be enhanced if the low-lying resonance has collective nature.Comment: 11 pages, no figure

Octupole deformation instability in atomic nuclei

Recent high-energy heavy-ion collision experiments have revealed that some atomic nuclei exhibit unusual softness and significant shape fluctuations. In this Letter, we use the fully self-consistent mean-field theory to identify all even-even nuclei that are unstable or soft against octupole deformation. All exceptional cases of enhanced octupole transition strengths in stable even-even nuclei throughout the nuclide chart are resolved. These results represent a significant advance in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of nuclear octupole deformation and have implications for further experimental and theoretical studies.Comment: New references [3,4] were added. Thank Prof. Jiangyong Jia for the discussion

Nuclear Schiff moment and soft vibrational modes

The atomic electric dipole moment (EDM) currently searched by a number of experimental groups requires that both parity and time-reversal invariance be violated. According to current theoretical understanding, the EDM is induced by the nuclear Schiff moment. The enhancement of the Schiff moment by the combination of static quadrupole and octupole deformation was predicted earlier. Here we study a further idea of the possible enhancement in the absence of static deformation but in a nuclear system with soft collective vibrations of two types. Both analytical approximation and numerical solution of the simplified problem confirm the presence of the enhancement. We discuss related aspects of nuclear structure which should be studied beyond mean-field and random phase approximations.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Super-Radiant Dynamics, Doorways, and Resonances in Nuclei and Other Open Mesoscopic Systems

The phenomenon of super-radiance (Dicke effect, coherent spontaneous radiation by a gas of atoms coupled through the common radiation field) is well known in quantum optics. The review discusses similar physics that emerges in open and marginally stable quantum many-body systems. In the presence of open decay channels, the intrinsic states are coupled through the continuum. At sufficiently strong continuum coupling, the spectrum of resonances undergoes the restructuring with segregation of very broad super-radiant states and trapping of remaining long-lived compound states. The appropriate formalism describing this phenomenon is based on the Feshbach projection method and effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. A broader generalization is related to the idea of doorway states connecting quantum states of different structure. The method is explained in detail and the examples of applications are given to nuclear, atomic and particle physics. The interrelation of the collective dynamics through continuum and possible intrinsic many-body chaos is studied, including universal mesoscopic conductance fluctuations. The theory serves as a natural framework for general description of a quantum signal transmission through an open mesoscopic system.Comment: 85 pages, 10 figure

Recent results on heavy-ion induced reactions of interest for neutrinoless double beta decay at INFN-LNS

Abstract. The possibility to use a special class of heavy-ion induced direct reactions, such as double charge exchange reactions, is discussed in view of their application to extract information that may be helpful to determinate the nuclear matrix elements entering in the expression of neutrinoless double beta decay halflife. The methodology of the experimental campaign presently running at INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud is reported and the experimental challenges characterizing such activity are describe

NURE: An ERC project to study nuclear reactions for neutrinoless double beta decay

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) is considered the best potential resource to access the absolute neutrino mass scale. Moreover, if observed, it will signal that neutrinos are their own anti-particles (Majorana particles). Presently, this physics case is one of the most important research “beyond Standard Model” and might guide the way towards a Grand Unified Theory of fundamental interactions. Since the 0νββ decay process involves nuclei, its analysis necessarily implies nuclear structure issues. In the NURE project, supported by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council (ERC), nuclear reactions of double charge-exchange (DCE) are used as a tool to extract information on the 0νββ Nuclear Matrix Elements. In DCE reactions and ββ decay indeed the initial and final nuclear states are the same and the transition operators have similar structure. Thus the measurement of the DCE absolute cross-sections can give crucial information on ββ matrix elements. In a wider view, the NUMEN international collaboration plans a major upgrade of the INFN-LNS facilities in the next years in order to increase the experimental production of nuclei of at least two orders of magnitude, thus making feasible a systematic study of all the cases of interest as candidates for 0νββ

New results from the NUMEN project

NUMEN aims at accessing experimentally driven information on Nuclear Matrix Elements (NME) involved in the half-life of the neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ), by high-accuracy measurements of the cross sections of Heavy Ion (HI) induced Double Charge Exchange (DCE) reactions. First evidence about the possibility to get quantitative information about NME from experiments is found for the (18O,18Ne) and (20Ne,20O) reactions. Moreover, to infer the neutrino average masses from the possible measurement of the half-life of 0νββ decay, the knowledge of the NME is a crucial aspect. The key tools for this project are the high resolution Superconducting Cyclotron beams and the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer at INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud in Catania (Italy). The measured cross sections are extremely low, limiting the present exploration to few selected isotopes of interest in the context of typically low-yield experimental runs. A major upgrade of the LNS facility is foreseen in order to increase the experimental yield of at least two orders of magnitude, thus making feasible a systematic study of all the cases of interest. peerReviewe