7,249 research outputs found
Influence of nuclear physics inputs and astrophysical conditions on Th/U chronometer
The productions of thorium and uranium are key ingredients in -process
nucleo-cosmochronology. With the combination of improved nuclear and stellar
data, we have made detailed investigations on the -process abundance pattern
in the very metal-poor halo stars based on the classical -process approach.
It is found that the results are almost independent of specified simulations to
observed abundances. The influence from nuclear mass uncertainties on Th/U
chronometer can approach 2 Gyr. Moreover, the ages of the metal-poor stars HE
1523-0901, CS 31082-001, and BD +173248 are determined as , , and Gyr, respectively. The results can
serve as an independent check for age estimate of the universe.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures. accepted by Phys. Rev.
Feasibility of the finite amplitude method in covariant density functional theory
Self-consistent relativistic random-phase approximation (RPA) in the radial
coordinate representation is established by using the finite amplitude method
(FAM). Taking the isoscalar giant monopole resonance in spherical nuclei as
example, the feasibility of the FAM for the covariant density functionals is
demonstrated, and the newly developed methods are verified by the conventional
RPA calculations. In the present relativistic RPA calculations, the effects of
the Dirac sea can be automatically taken into account in the coordinate-space
representation. The rearrangement terms due to the density-dependent couplings
can be implicitly calculated without extra computational costs in both
iterative and matrix FAM schemes.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure
Finite-amplitude method: An extension to the covariant density functionals
The finite-amplitude method (FAM) is one of the most promising methods for
optimizing the computational performance of the random-phase approximation
(RPA) calculations in deformed nuclei. In this report, we will mainly focus on
our recent progress in the self-consistent relativistic RPA established by
using the FAM. It is found that the effects of Dirac sea can be taken into
account implicitly in the coordinate-space representation and the rearrangement
terms due to the density-dependent couplings can be treated without extra
computational costs.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of the 20th Nuclear Physics Workshop
"Marie & Pierre Curie", Kazimierz, Poland, 25-29 September, 201
Self-consistent relativistic quasiparticle random-phase approximation and its applications to charge-exchange excitations and -decay half-lives
The self-consistent quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) approach
is formulated in the canonical single-nucleon basis of the relativistic
Hatree-Fock-Bogoliubov (RHFB) theory. This approach is applied to study the
isobaric analog states (IAS) and Gamov-Teller resonances (GTR) by taking Sn
isotopes as examples. It is found that self-consistent treatment of the
particle-particle residual interaction is essential to concentrate the IAS in a
single peak for open-shell nuclei and the Coulomb exchange term is very
important to predict the IAS energies. For the GTR, the isovector pairing can
increase the calculated GTR energy, while the isoscalar pairing has an
important influence on the low-lying tail of the GT transition. Furthermore,
the QRPA approach is employed to predict nuclear -decay half-lives. With
an isospin-dependent pairing interaction in the isoscalar channel, the
RHFB+QRPA approach almost completely reproduces the experimental -decay
half-lives for nuclei up to the Sn isotopes with half-lives smaller than one
second. Large discrepancies are found for the Ni, Zn, and Ge isotopes with
neutron number smaller than , as well as the Sn isotopes with neutron
number smaller than . The potential reasons for these discrepancies are
discussed in detail.Comment: 34 pages, 14 figure
Stellar electron-capture rates calculated with the finite-temperature relativistic random-phase approximation
We introduce a self-consistent microscopic theoretical framework for
modelling the process of electron capture on nuclei in stellar environment,
based on relativistic energy density functionals. The finite-temperature
relativistic mean-field model is used to calculate the single-nucleon basis and
the occupation factors in a target nucleus, and , ,
charge-exchange transitions are described by the self-consistent
finite-temperature relativistic random-phase approximation. Cross sections and
rates are calculated for electron capture on 54,56Fe and 76,78Ge in stellar
environment, and results compared with predictions of similar and complementary
model calculations.Comment: Physical Review C, accepte
-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei and matter flow in the -process
The -decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei with are systematically investigated using the newly developed fully
self-consistent proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA),
based on the spherical relativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (RHFB) framework.
Available data are reproduced by including an isospin-dependent proton-neutron
pairing interaction in the isoscalar channel of the RHFB+QRPA model. With the
calculated -decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei a remarkable
speeding up of -matter flow is predicted. This leads to enhanced -process
abundances of elements with , an important result for the
understanding of the origin of heavy elements in the universe.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Changes in plant species richness distribution in Tibetan alpine grasslands under different precipitation scenarios
Species richness is the core of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research. Nevertheless, it is difficult to accurately predict changes in plant species richness under different climate scenarios, especially in alpine biomes. In this study, we surveyed plant species richness from 2009 to 2017 in 75 alpine meadows (AM), 199 alpine steppes (AS), and 71 desert steppes (DS) in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, China. Along with 20 environmental factors relevant to species settlement, development, and survival, we first simulated the spatial pattern of plant species richness under current climate conditions using random forest modelling. Our results showed that simulated species richness matched well with observed values in the field, showing an evident decrease from meadows to steppes and then to deserts. Summer precipitation, which ranked first among the 20 environmental factors, was further confirmed to be the most critical driver of species richness distribution. Next, we simulated and compared species richness patterns under four different precipitation scenarios, increasing and decreasing summer precipitation by 20% and 10%, relative to the current species richness pattern. Our findings showed that species richness in response to altered precipitation was grassland-type specific, with meadows being sensitive to decreasing precipitation, steppes being sensitive to increasing precipitation, and deserts remaining resistant. In addition, species richness at low elevations was more sensitive to decreasing precipitation than to increasing precipitation, implying that droughts might have stronger influences than wetting on species composition. In contrast, species richness at high elevations (also in deserts) changed slightly under different precipitation scenarios, likely due to harsh physical conditions and small species pools for plant recruitment and survival. Finally, we suggest that policymakers and herdsmen pay more attention to alpine grasslands in central Tibet and at low elevations where species richness is sensitive to precipitation changes
The Gamow-Teller response within Skyrme random-phase approximation plus particle-vibration coupling
Although many random-phase approximation (RPA) calculations of the
Gamow-Teller (GT) response exist, this is not the case for calculations going
beyond the mean-field approximation. We apply a consistent model that includes
the coupling of the GT resonance to low-lying vibrations, to nuclei of the
shell. Among other motivations, our goal is to see if the particle-vibration
coupling can redistribute the low-lying GT strength that is relevant for
electron-capture processes in core-collapse supernova. We conclude that the
lowering and fragmentation of that strength are consistent with the
experimental findings and validate our model. However, the particle-vibration
coupling cannot account for the quenching of the total value of the low-lying
strength.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figure
Lending without creditor rights, collateral, or reputation - the “trusted-assistant” loan in 19th century China
This paper considers lending to finance projects in a setting where repayment enforcement appears impossible. The loan was illegal and thus legally unenforceable. Creditors were incapable of applying private coercion to force repayment. Borrowers lacked both collateral and reputation capital. Project cash flows were unobservable. The projects were the acquisition of Imperial administrative posts by scholars in nineteenth century Qing China. The lending mechanism was the “trusted-assistant loan.” Our model of trusted assistant lending shows that it is a renegotiation-proof implementation of efficient state dependent financing. Empirical analysis of officials’ diaries and bank records shows that the employment of trusted-assistant lending and the performance of trusted-assistant loans conforms roughly with the model’s predictions
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