Low energy collective modes of deformed superfluid nuclei within the finite amplitude method

Background: The major challenge for nuclear theory is to describe and predict global properties and collective modes of atomic nuclei. Of particular interest is the response of the nucleus to a time-dependent external field that impacts the low-energy multipole and beta-decay strength. Purpose: We propose a method to compute low-lying collective modes in deformed nuclei within the finite amplitude method (FAM) based on the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA). By using the analytic property of the response function, we find the QRPA amplitudes by computing the residua of the FAM amplitudes by means of a contour integration around the QRPA poles in a complex frequency plane. Methods: We use the superfluid nuclear density functional theory with Skyrme energy density functionals, FAM-QRPA approach, and the conventional matrix formulation of the QRPA (MQRPA). Results: We demonstrate that the complex-energy FAM-QRPA method reproduces low-lying collective states obtained within the conventional matrix formulation of the QRPA theory. Illustrative calculations are performed for the isoscalar monopole strength in deformed 24Mg and for low-lying K = 0 quadrupole vibrational modes of deformed Yb and Er isotopes. Conclusions: The proposed FAM-QRPA approach allows one to efficiently calculate low-lying collective modes in spherical and deformed nuclei throughout the entire nuclear landscape, including shape-vibrational excitations, pairing vibrational modes, and beta-decay rates.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Gauge-Invariant Formulation of Adiabatic Self-Consistent Collective Coordinate Method

The adiabatic self-consistent collective coordinate (ASCC) method is a practical microscopic theory of large-amplitude collective motions in nuclei with superfluidity. We show that its basic equations are invariant against transformations involving the gauge angle in the particle-number space. By virtue of this invariance, a clean separation between the large-amplitude collective motion and the pairing rotational motion can be achieved, enabling us to restore the particle-number symmetry broken by the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approximation. We formulate the ASCC method explicitly in a gauge-invariant form. In solving the ASCC equations, it is necessary to fix the gauge. Applying this new formulation to the multi-O(4) model, we compare different gauge-fixing procedures and demonstrate that calculations using different gauges indeed yield the same results for gauge-invariant quantities, such as the collective path and quantum spectra. We suggest a gauge-fixing prescription that seems most convenient in realistic calculations.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Prog. Theor. Phy

Local alpha strength in the mean-field approximation

The local alpha strength is proposed to quantify the possibility to form an alpha particle at a specific location inside the nucleus. It also provides the strength of ground and excited states in the residual nuclei after the removal of the alpha particle. We use the Hartree-Fock-plus-BCS (HF+BCS) method in the calculation of the local alpha strengths for Sn isotopes. The local alpha strengths are easily calculable and the results are consistent with recent experimental data for Sn isotopes.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure