The Two-Body Random Ensemble in Nuclei

Combining analytical and numerical methods, we investigate properties of the two-body random ensemble (TBRE). We compare the TBRE with the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble of random matrices. Using the geometric properties of the nuclear shell model, we discuss the information content of nuclear spectra, and gain insight in the difficulties encountered when fitting the effective interaction. We exhibit the existence of correlations between spectral widths pertaining to different quantum numbers. Using these results, we deduce the preponderance of spin-zero ground states in the TBRE. We demonstrate the existence of correlations between spectra with different quantum numbers and/or in different nuclei.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figure

Chaotic Scattering on Individual Quantum Graphs

For chaotic scattering on quantum graphs, the semiclassical approximation is exact. We use this fact and employ supersymmetry, the colour-flavour transformation, and the saddle-point approximation to calculate the exact expression for the lowest and asymptotic expressions in the Ericson regime for all higher correlation functions of the scattering matrix. Our results agree with those available from the random-matrix approach to chaotic scattering. We conjecture that our results hold universally for quantum-chaotic scattering

Laser-Nucleus Reactions: Population of States far above Yrast and far from Stability

Nuclear reactions induced by a strong zeptosecond laser pulse are studied theoretically in the quasiadiabatic regime where the photon absorption rate is comparable to the nuclear equilibration rate. We find that multiple photon absorption leads to the formation of a compound nucleus in the so-far unexplored regime of excitation energies several hundred MeV above the yrast line. At these energies, further photon absorption is limited by neutron decay and/or induced nucleon emission. With a laser pulse of $\approx 50$ zs duration, proton-rich nuclei far off the line of stability are produced.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, small changes in v2 to match the published version, results unchange

Distribution of spectral widths and preponderance of spin-0 ground states in nuclei

We use a single j-shell model with random two-body interactions to derive closed expressions for the distribution of and the correlations between spectral widths of different spins. This task is facilitated by introducing two-body operators whose squared spectral widths sum up to the squared spectral width of the random Hamiltonian. The spin-0 width is characterized by a relatively large average value and small fluctuations while the width of maximum spin has the largest average and the largest fluctuations. The approximate proportionality between widths and spectral radii explains the preponderance of spin-0 ground states.Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figure

Random-matrix approach to the statistical compound nuclear reaction at low energies using the Monte-Carlo technique

Using a random-matrix approach and Monte-Carlo simulations, we generate scattering matrices and cross sections for compound-nucleus reactions. In the absence of direct reactions we compare the average cross sections with the analytic solution given by the Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble (GOE) triple integral, and with predictions of statistical approaches such as the ones due to Moldauer, to Hofmann, Richert, Tepel, and Weidenm\"{u}ller, and to Kawai, Kerman, and McVoy. We find perfect agreement with the GOE triple integral and display the limits of validity of the latter approaches. We establish a criterion for the width of the energy-averaging interval such that the relative difference between the ensemble-averaged and the energy-averaged scattering matrices lies below a given bound. Direct reactions are simulated in terms of an energy-independent background matrix. In that case, cross sections averaged over the ensemble of Monte-Carlo simulations fully agree with results from the Engelbrecht-Weidenm\"{u}ller transformation. The limits of other approximate approaches are displayed

Abundance of Ground States with Positive Parity

We investigate analytically and numerically a random-matrix model for m fermions occupying l1 single-particle states with positive parity and l2 single-particle states with negative parity and interacting through random two-body forces that conserve parity. The single-particle states are completely degenerate and carry no further quantum numbers. We compare spectra of many-body states with positive and with negative parity. We show that in the dilute limit, ground states with positive and with negative parity occur with equal probability. Differences in the ground-state probabilities are, thus, a finite-size effect and are mainly due to different dimensions of the Hilbert spaces of either parity.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur