Accuracy of BCS-based approximations for pairing in small Fermi systems

We analyze the accuracy of BCS-based approximations for calculating correlation energies and odd-even energy differences in 2-component fermionic systems with a small number of pairs. The analysis is focused on comparing BCS and projected BCS treatments with the exact solution of the pairing Hamiltonian, considering parameter ranges appropriate for nuclear pairing energies. We find that the projected BCS is quite accurate over the entire range of coupling strengths in spaces of up to about 20 doubly degenerate orbitals. It is also quite accurate for two cases we considered with a more realistic Hamiltonian, representing the nuclei around 117Sn and 207Pb. However, the projected BCS significantly underestimates the energies for much larger spaces when the pairing is weak.Comment: 10 pages; 14 figure

Application of the gradient method to Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory

A computer code is presented for solving the equations of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) theory by the gradient method, motivated by the need for efficient and robust codes to calculate the configurations required by extensions of HFB such as the generator coordinate method. The code is organized with a separation between the parts that are specific to the details of the Hamiltonian and the parts that are generic to the gradient method. This permits total flexibility in choosing the symmetries to be imposed on the HFB solutions. The code solves for both even and odd particle number ground states, the choice determined by the input data stream. Application is made to the nuclei in the $sd$-shell using the USDB shell-model Hamiltonian.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, 3 table

Self-consistent description of multipole strength: systematic calculations

We use the quasiparticle random phase approximation with a few Skyrme density functionals to calculate strength functions in the Jpi = 0+, 1-, and 2+ channels for even Ca, Ni, and Sn isotopes, from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line. We show where and how low-lying strength begins to appear as N increases. We also exhibit partial energy-weighted sums of the transition strength as functions of N for all nuclei calculated, and transition densities for many of the interesting peaks. We find that low-energy strength increases with N in all multipoles, but with distinctive features in each. The low-lying 0+ strength near the neutron at large N barely involves protons at all, with the strength coming primarily from a single two-quasineutron configuration with very large spatial extent. The low-lying 1- strength is different, with protons contributing to the transition density in the nuclear interior together with neutrons at large radii. The low-lying 2+ transition strength goes largely to more localized states. The three Skyrme interactions we test produce similar results, differing most significantly in their predictions for the location of the neutron drip line, the boundaries of deformed regions, energies of and transition strengths to the lowest 2+ states between closed shells, and isovector energy-weighted sum rules.Comment: 43 pages, 48 figures, 1 tabl

Electromagnetic transition strengths in soft deformed nuclei

Spectroscopic observables such as electromagnetic transitions strengths can be related to the properties of the intrinsic mean-field wave function when the latter are strongly deformed, but the standard rotational formulas break down when the deformation decreases. Nevertheless there is a well-defined, non-zero, spherical limit that can be evaluated in terms of overlaps of mean-field intrinsic deformed wave functions. We examine the transition between the spherical limit and strongly deformed one for a range of nuclei comparing the two limiting formulas with exact projection results. We find a simple criterion for the validity of the rotational formula depending on $$, the mean square fluctuation in the angular momentum of the intrinsic state. We also propose an interpolation formula which describes the transition strengths over the entire range of deformations, reducing to the two simple expressions in the appropriate limits.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, supplemental material include

Mixed-Spin Pairing Condensates in Heavy Nuclei

We show that the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations for nuclear ground-state wave functions support solutions in which the condensate has a mixture of spin-singlet and spin-triplet pairing. We find that such mixed-spin condensates do not occur when there are equal numbers of neutrons and protons, but only when there is an isospin imbalance. Using a phenomenological Hamiltonian, we predict that such nuclei may occur in the physical region within the proton dripline. We also solve the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations with variable constraints on the spin-singlet and spin-triplet pairing amplitudes. For nuclei that exhibit this new pairing behavior, the resulting energy surface can be rather soft, suggesting that there may be low-lying excitations associated with the spin mixing.Comment: 4+ pages, 3 figures, 1 table; 1 reference added; v2 corresponds to the published versio

Structure properties of 226{}^{226}Th and 256,258,260{}^{256,258,260}Fm fission fragments: mean field analysis with the Gogny force

The constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method is used with the Gogny interaction D1S to calculate potential energy surfaces of fissioning nuclei ${}^{226}$Th and ${}^{256,258,260}$Fm up to very large deformations. The constraints employed are the mass quadrupole and octupole moments. In this subspace of collective coordinates, many scission configurations are identified ranging from symmetric to highly asymmetric fragmentations. Corresponding fragment properties at scission are derived yielding fragment deformations, deformation energies, energy partitioning, neutron binding energies at scission, neutron multiplicities, charge polarization and total fragment kinetic energies.Comment: 15 pages, 23 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C (2007

Spin-triplet pairing in large nuclei

The nuclear pairing condensate is expected to change character from spin-singlet to spin-triplet when the nucleus is very large and the neutron and proton numbers $Z,N$ are equal. We investigate the transition between these two phases within the framework of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov equations, using a zero-range interaction to generate the pairing. We confirm that extremely large nucleus would indeed favor triplet pairing condensates, with the Hamiltonian parameters taken from known systematics. The favored phase is found to depend on the specific orbitals at the Fermi energy. The smallest nuclei with a well-developed spin-triplet condensate are in the mass region A ~ 130-140.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

Mean field and pairing properties in the crust of neutron stars

Properties of the matter in the inner crust of a neutron star are investigated in a Hartree-Fock plus BCS approximation employing schematic effective forces of the type of the Skyrme forces. Special attention is paid to differences between a homogenous and inhomogeneous description of the matter distribution. For that purpose self-consistent Hartree Fock calculations are performed in a spherical Wigner-Seitz cell. The results are compared to predictions of corresponding Thomas Fermi calculations. The influence of the shell structure on the formation of pairing correlations in inhomogeneous matter are discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Coupling of hydrodynamics and quasiparticle motion in collective modes of superfluid trapped Fermi gases

At finite temperature, the hydrodynamic collective modes of superfluid trapped Fermi gases are coupled to the motion of the normal component, which in the BCS limit behaves like a collisionless normal Fermi gas. The coupling between the superfluid and the normal components is treated in the framework of a semiclassical transport theory for the quasiparticle distribution function, combined with a hydrodynamic equation for the collective motion of the superfluid component. We develop a numerical test-particle method for solving these equations in the linear response regime. As a first application we study the temperature dependence of the collective quadrupole mode of a Fermi gas in a spherical trap. The coupling between the superfluid collective motion and the quasiparticles leads to a rather strong damping of the hydrodynamic mode already at very low temperatures. At higher temperatures the spectrum has a two-peak structure, the second peak corresponding to the quadrupole mode in the normal phase.Comment: 14 pages; v2: major changes (effect of Hartree field included