Shapes and Dynamics from the Time-Dependent Mean Field

Explaining observed properties in terms of underlying shape degrees of freedom is a well--established prism with which to understand atomic nuclei. Self--consistent mean--field models provide one tool to understand nuclear shapes, and their link to other nuclear properties and observables. We present examples of how the time--dependent extension of the mean--field approach can be used in particular to shed light on nuclear shape properties, particularly looking at the giant resonances built on deformed nuclear ground states, and at dynamics in highly-deformed fission isomers. Example calculations are shown of $^{28}$Si in the first case, and $^{240}$Pu in the latter case.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, to appear in proceedings of International Workshop "Shapes and Dynamics of Atomic Nuclei: Contemporary Aspects" (SDANCA-15), 8-10 October 2015, Sofia, Bulgari

Detection of Spiral photons in Quantum Optics

We show that a new type of photon detector, sensitive to the gradients of electromagnetic fields, should be a useful tool to characterize the quantum properties of spatially-dependent optical fields. As a simple detector of such a kind, we propose using magnetic dipole or electric quadrupole transitions in atoms or molecules and apply it to the detection of spiral photons in Laguerre-Gauss (LG) beams. We show that LG beams are not true hollow beams, due to the presence of magnetic fields and gradients of electric fields on beam axis. This approach paves the way to an analysis at the quantum level of the spatial structure and angular momentum properties of singular light beams.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure