One-rank interaction kernel of the two-nucleon system for medium and high energies

A new version of the separable kernel of the nucleon-nucleon interaction in the Bethe-Salpeter approach is presented. The phase shifts are fitted to recent experimental data for singlet and uncoupled triplet partial waves of the neutron-proton scattering with total angular momenta J=0,1. The results are compared with other model calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 3 table

Proposal for the determination of nuclear masses by high-precision spectroscopy of Rydberg states

The theoretical treatment of Rydberg states in one-electron ions is facilitated by the virtual absence of the nuclear-size correction, and fundamental constants like the Rydberg constant may be in the reach of planned high-precision spectroscopic experiments. The dominant nuclear effect that shifts transition energies among Rydberg states therefore is due to the nuclear mass. As a consequence, spectroscopic measurements of Rydberg transitions can be used in order to precisely deduce nuclear masses. A possible application of this approach to the hydrogen and deuterium, and hydrogen-like lithium and carbon is explored in detail. In order to complete the analysis, numerical and analytic calculations of the quantum electrodynamic (QED) self-energy remainder function for states with principal quantum number n=5,...,8 and with angular momentum L=n-1 and L=n-2 are described (j = L +/- 1/2).Comment: 21 pages; LaTe

QED theory of the nuclear recoil effect in atoms

The quantum electrodynamic theory of the nuclear recoil effect in atoms to all orders in \alpha Z is formulated. The nuclear recoil corrections for atoms with one and two electrons over closed shells are considered in detail. The problem of the composite nuclear structure in the theory of the nuclear recoil effect is discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, Late

Lamb Shift of 3P and 4P states and the determination of α\alpha

The fine structure interval of P states in hydrogenlike systems can be determined theoretically with high precision, because the energy levels of P states are only slightly influenced by the structure of the nucleus. Therefore a measurement of the fine structure may serve as an excellent test of QED in bound systems or alternatively as a means of determining the fine structure constant $\alpha$ with very high precision. In this paper an improved analytic calculation of higher-order binding corrections to the one-loop self energy of 3P and 4P states in hydrogen-like systems with low nuclear charge number $Z$ is presented. A comparison of the analytic results to the extrapolated numerical data for high $Z$ ions serves as an independent test of the analytic evaluation. New theoretical values for the Lamb shift of the P states and for the fine structure splittings are given.Comment: 33 pages, LaTeX, 4 tables, 4 figure

The Separable Kernel of Nucleon-Nucleon Interaction in the Bethe-Salpeter Approach

The dispersion relations for nucleon-nucleon (NN) T-matrix in the framework of Bethe-Salpeter equation for two spin one-half particle system and with separable kernel of interaction are considered in the paper. The developed expressions are applied for construction of the separable kernel of interaction for S partial-waves in singlet and triplet channels. We calculate the low energy scattering parameters and the phase shifts and also the deuteron binding energy with the separable interaction. The approach can be easily extended to higher partial-waves for NN-scattering and other reactions (anti N N-, pi N-scattering).Comment: RevTex 4 style, 9 pages, 1 figur

Fine and hyperfine structure of the muonic ^3He ion

On the basis of quasipotential approach to the bound state problem in QED we calculate the vacuum polarization, relativistic, recoil, structure corrections of orders $\alpha^5$ and $\alpha^6$ to the fine structure interval $\Delta E^{fs}=E(2P_{3/2})-E(2P_{1/2})$ and to the hyperfine structure of the energy levels $2P_{1/2}$ and $2P_{3/2}$ in muonic $^3_2He$ ion. The resulting values $\Delta E^{fs}= 144803.15 \mu eV$, $\Delta \tilde E^{hfs}(2P_{1/2})=-58712.90 \mu eV$, $\Delta \tilde E^{hfs}(2P_{3/2})=-24290.69 \mu eV$ provide reliable guidelines in performing a comparison with the relevant experimental data.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, 3 table

Massive stars as thermonuclear reactors and their explosions following core collapse

Nuclear reactions transform atomic nuclei inside stars. This is the process of stellar nucleosynthesis. The basic concepts of determining nuclear reaction rates inside stars are reviewed. How stars manage to burn their fuel so slowly most of the time are also considered. Stellar thermonuclear reactions involving protons in hydrostatic burning are discussed first. Then I discuss triple alpha reactions in the helium burning stage. Carbon and oxygen survive in red giant stars because of the nuclear structure of oxygen and neon. Further nuclear burning of carbon, neon, oxygen and silicon in quiescent conditions are discussed next. In the subsequent core-collapse phase, neutronization due to electron capture from the top of the Fermi sea in a degenerate core takes place. The expected signal of neutrinos from a nearby supernova is calculated. The supernova often explodes inside a dense circumstellar medium, which is established due to the progenitor star losing its outermost envelope in a stellar wind or mass transfer in a binary system. The nature of the circumstellar medium and the ejecta of the supernova and their dynamics are revealed by observations in the optical, IR, radio, and X-ray bands, and I discuss some of these observations and their interpretations.Comment: To be published in " Principles and Perspectives in Cosmochemistry" Lecture Notes on Kodai School on Synthesis of Elements in Stars; ed. by Aruna Goswami & Eswar Reddy, Springer Verlag, 2009. Contains 21 figure

Gravitational Waves from Gravitational Collapse

Gravitational wave emission from the gravitational collapse of massive stars has been studied for more than three decades. Current state of the art numerical investigations of collapse include those that use progenitors with realistic angular momentum profiles, properly treat microphysics issues, account for general relativity, and examine non--axisymmetric effects in three dimensions. Such simulations predict that gravitational waves from various phenomena associated with gravitational collapse could be detectable with advanced ground--based and future space--based interferometric observatories.Comment: 68 pages including 13 figures; revised version accepted for publication in Living Reviews in Relativity (http://www.livingreviews.org