Monte Carlo methods and applications for the nuclear shell model

The shell-model Monte Carlo (SMMC) technique transforms the traditional nuclear shell-model problem into a path-integral over auxiliary fields. We describe below the method and its applications to four physics issues: calculations of sdpf- shell nuclei, a discussion of electron-capture rates in pf-shell nuclei, exploration of pairing correlations in unstable nuclei, and level densities in rare earth systems.Comment: Proceedings of the Nuclear Structure '98 conference, Gatlinburg, TN, 10-15 August 199

Spin-Dependent Neutralino-Nucleus Scattering for A∼127A \sim 127 Nuclei

We perform nuclear shell model calculations of the neutralino-nucleus cross section for several nuclei in the A = 127 region. Each of the four nuclei considered is a primary target in a direct dark matter detection experiment. The calculations are valid for all relevant values of the momentum transfer. Our calculations are performed in the $3s 2d 1g_{7/2} 1h_{11/2}$ model space using extremely large bases, allowing us to include all relevant correlations. We also study the dependence of the nuclear response upon the assumed nuclear Hamiltonian and find it to be small. We find good agreement with the observed magnetic moment as well as other obervables for the four nuclei considered: ^{127}I, ^{129,131}Xe, and ^{125}Te.Comment: 23 pages + 7 postscript figures. LaTeX uses RevTe

Aging on Parisi's tree

We present a detailed study of simple `tree' models for off equilibrium dynamics and aging in glassy systems. The simplest tree describes the landscape of a random energy model, whereas multifurcating trees occur in the solution of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model. An important ingredient taken from these models is the exponential distribution of deep free-energies, which translate into a power-law distribution of the residence time within metastable `valleys'. These power law distributions have infinite mean in the spin-glass phase and this leads to the aging phenomenon. To each level of the tree are associated an overlap and the exponent of the time distribution. We solve these models for a finite (but arbitrary) number of levels and show that a two level tree accounts very well for many experimental observations (thermoremanent magnetisation, a.c susceptibility, second noise spectrum....). We introduce the idea that the deepest levels of the tree correspond to equilibrium dynamics whereas the upper levels correspond to aging. Temperature cycling experiments suggest that the borderline between the two is temperature dependent. The spin-glass transition corresponds to the temperature at which the uppermost level is put out of equilibrium but is subsequently followed by a sequence of (dynamical) phase transitions corresponding to non equilibrium dynamics within deeper and deeper levels. We tentatively try to relate this `tree' picture to the real space `droplet' model, and speculate on how the final description of spin-glasses might look like.Comment: 30 pages, RevTeX, 9 figures, available on request, report # 077 / SPEC / 199

Effect of nuclear structure on Type Ia supernova nucleosynthesis

The relationship among nuclear structure, the weak processes in nuclei, and astrophysics becomes quite apparent in supernova explosion and nucleosynthesis studies. In this brief article, I report on progress made in the last few years on calculating electron capture and beta-decay rates in iron-group nuclei. I also report on applications of these rates to Type-Ia nucleosynthesis studies.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of Nuclei In the Cosmos 200

Some observations on the renormalization of membrane rigidity by long-range interactions

We consider the renormalization of the bending and Gaussian rigidity of model membranes induced by long-range interactions between the components making up the membrane. In particular we analyze the effect of a finite membrane thickness on the renormalization of the bending and Gaussian rigidity by long-range interactions. Particular attention is paid to the case where the interactions are of a van der Waals type.Comment: 11 pages RexTex, no figure

Gamow-Teller GT+ distributions in nuclei with mass A=90-97

We investigate the Gamow-Teller strength distributions in the electron-capture direction in nuclei having mass A=90-97, assuming a 88Sr core and using a realistic interaction that reasonably reproduces nuclear spectroscopy for a wide range of nuclei in the region as well as experimental data on Gamow-Teller strength distributions. We discuss the systematics of the distributions and their centroids. We also predict the strength distributions for several nuclei involving stable isotopes that should be experimentally accessible for one-particle exchange reactions in the near future.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures (from 17 eps files), to be submitted to Phys.Rev.C; corrected typos, minor language change