Isoscalar giant monopole strength in 58^{58}Ni, 90^{90}Zr, 120^{120}Sn and 208^{208}Pb

Inelastic $\alpha$-particle scattering at energies of a few hundred MeV and very-forward scattering angles including $0^\circ$ has been established as a tool for the study of the isoscalar giant monopole (IS0) strength distributions in nuclei. An independent investigation of the IS0 strength in nuclei across a wide mass range was performed using the $0^\circ$ facility at iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS), South Africa, to understand differences observed between IS0 strength distributions in previous experiments performed at the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Cyclotron Institute, USA and the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Japan. The isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) was excited in $^{58}$Ni, $^{90}$Zr, $^{120}$Sn and $^{208}$Pb using $\alpha$-particle inelastic scattering with $196$ MeV $\alpha$ beam and scattering angles $\theta_{\text{Lab}} = 0^\circ$ and $4^\circ$. The K$600$ magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS was used to detect and momentum analyze the inelastically scattered $\alpha$ particles. The IS0 strength distributions in the nuclei studied were deduced with the difference-of-spectra (DoS) technique including a correction factor for the $4^\circ$ data based on the decomposition of $L > 0$ cross sections in previous experiments. IS0 strength distributions for $^{58}$Ni, $^{90}$Zr, $^{120}$Sn and $^{208}$Pb are extracted in the excitation-energy region $E_{\rm x} = 9 - 25$ MeV.Using correction factors extracted from the RCNP experiments, there is a fair agreement with their published IS0 results. Good agreement for IS0 strength in $^{58}$Ni is also obtained with correction factors deduced from the TAMU results, while marked differences are found for $^{90}$Zr and $^{208}$Pb

Isoscalar giant monopole resonance in 24^{24}Mg and 28^{28}Si: Effect of coupling between the isoscalar monopole and quadrupole strength

International audienceBackground: In highly deformed nuclei, there is a noticeable coupling of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) and the K=0 component of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR), which results in a double peak structure of the isoscalar monopole (IS0) strength (a narrow low-energy deformation-induced peak and a main broad ISGMR part). The energy of the narrow low-lying IS0 peak is sensitive to both the incompressibility modulus K∞ and the coupling between IS0 and isoscalar quadrupole (IS2) strength.Purpose: This study aims to investigate the two-peaked structure of the ISGMR in the prolate Mg24 and oblate Si28 nuclei and identify among a variety of energy density functionals based on Skyrme parametrizations the one which best describes the experimental data. This will allow for conclusions regarding the nuclear incompressibility. Because of the strong IS0/IS2 coupling, the deformation splitting of the ISGQR will also be analyzed.Methods: The ISGMR was excited in Mg24 and Si28 using α-particle inelastic scattering measurements acquired with an Eα=196 MeV beam at scattering angles θLab=0∘ and 4∘. The K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS was used to detect and momentum analyze the inelastically scattered α particles. An experimental energy resolution of ≈70 keV (FWHM) was attained, revealing fine structure in the excitation-energy region of the ISGMR. The IS0 strength distributions in the nuclei studied were obtained with the difference-of-spectra (DoS) technique. The theoretical comparison is based on the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) with a representative set of Skyrme forces.Results: IS0 strength distributions for Mg24 and Si28 are extracted and compared to previously published results from experiments with a lower energy resolution. With some exceptions, a reasonable agreement is obtained. The IS0 strength is found to be separated into a narrow structure at about 13–14 MeV in Mg24, 17–19 MeV in Si28, and a broad structure at 19–26 MeV in both nuclei. The data are compared with QRPA results. The results of the calculated characteristics of IS0 states demonstrate the strong IS0/IS2 coupling in strongly prolate Mg24 and oblate Si28. The narrow IS0 peaks are shown to arise due to the deformation-induced IS0/IS2 coupling and strong collective effects. The cluster features of the narrow IS0 peak at 13.87MeV in Mg24 are also discussed. The best description of the IS0 data is obtained using the Skyrme force SkPδ with an associated low nuclear incompressibility K∞=202MeV allowing for both the energy of the peak and integral IS0 strength in Mg24 and Si28 to be reproduced. The features of the ISGQR in these nuclei are also investigated. An anomalous deformation splitting of the ISGQR in oblate Si28 is found. The observed structure of ISGQR in Mg24 is described.Conclusions: The ISGMR and ISGQR in light deformed nuclei are coupled and thus need to be described simultaneously. Only such a description is relevant and consistent. The deformation-induced narrow IS0 peaks can serve as an additional sensitive measure of the nuclear incompressibility

Evolution of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance in the Ca isotope chain

Two recent studies of the evolution of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) within the calcium isotope chain report conflicting results. One study suggests that the monopole resonance energy, and thus the incompressibility of the nucleus $K_{A}$ increase with mass, which implies that $K_{\tau}$, the asymmetry term in the nuclear incompressibility, has a positive value. The other study reports a weak decreasing trend of the energy moments, resulting in a generally accepted negative value for $K_{\tau}$. An independent measurement of the central region of the ISGMR in the Ca isotope chain is provided to gain a better understanding of the origin of possible systematic trends. Inelastically scattered $\alpha$ particles from a range of calcium targets ($\mathrm{^{40,42,44,48}Ca}$), observed at small scattering angles including 0$^\circ$, were momentum analyzed in the K600 magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS, South Africa. Monopole strengths spanning an excitation-energy range between 9.5 and 25.5 MeV were obtained using the difference-of-spectra (DoS) technique. The structure of the $E0$ strength distributions of $^{40,42,44}$Ca agrees well with the results from the previous measurement that supports a weak decreasing trend of the energy moments, while no two datasets agree in the case of $^{48}$Ca. Despite the variation in the structural character of $E0$ strength distribution from different studies, we find for all datasets that the moment ratios, calculated from the ISGMR strength in the excitation-energy range that defines the main resonance region, display at best only a weak systematic sensitivity to a mass increase. Different trends observed in the nuclear incompressibility are caused by contributions to the $E0$ strength outside of the main resonance region, and in particular for high excitation energies

Fine structure of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance in 58^{58}Ni, 90^{90}Zr, 120^{120}Sn and 208^{208}Pb

International audienceOver the past two decades high energy-resolution inelastic proton scattering studies were used to gain an understanding of the origin of fine structure observed in the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR) and the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR). Recently, the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) in $^{58}$Ni, $^{90}$Zr, $^{120}$Sn and $^{208}$Pb was studied at the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) by means of inelastic $\alpha$-particle scattering at very forward scattering angles (including $0\circ$). The good energy resolution of the measurement revealed significant fine structure of the ISGMR.~To extract scales by means of wavelet analysis characterizing the observed fine structure of the ISGMR in order to investigate the role of different mechanisms contributing to its decay width. Characteristic energy scales are extracted from the fine structure using continuous wavelet transforms. The experimental energy scales are compared to different theoretical approaches performed in the framework of quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) and beyond-QRPA including complex configurations using both non-relativistic and relativistic density functional theory. All models highlight the role of Landau fragmentation for the damping of the ISGMR especially in the medium-mass region. Models which include the coupling between one particle-one hole (1p-1h) and two particle-two hole (2p-2h) configurations modify the strength distributions and wavelet scales indicating the importance of the spreading width. The effect becomes more pronounced with increasing mass number. Wavelet scales remain a sensitive measure of the interplay between Landau fragmentation and the spreading width in the description of the fine structure of giant resonances

Fine structure of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance in 58^{58}Ni, 90^{90}Zr, 120^{120}Sn and 208^{208}Pb

International audienceOver the past two decades high energy-resolution inelastic proton scattering studies were used to gain an understanding of the origin of fine structure observed in the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance (ISGQR) and the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR). Recently, the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) in $^{58}$Ni, $^{90}$Zr, $^{120}$Sn and $^{208}$Pb was studied at the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) by means of inelastic $\alpha$-particle scattering at very forward scattering angles (including $0\circ$). The good energy resolution of the measurement revealed significant fine structure of the ISGMR.~To extract scales by means of wavelet analysis characterizing the observed fine structure of the ISGMR in order to investigate the role of different mechanisms contributing to its decay width. Characteristic energy scales are extracted from the fine structure using continuous wavelet transforms. The experimental energy scales are compared to different theoretical approaches performed in the framework of quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) and beyond-QRPA including complex configurations using both non-relativistic and relativistic density functional theory. All models highlight the role of Landau fragmentation for the damping of the ISGMR especially in the medium-mass region. Models which include the coupling between one particle-one hole (1p-1h) and two particle-two hole (2p-2h) configurations modify the strength distributions and wavelet scales indicating the importance of the spreading width. The effect becomes more pronounced with increasing mass number. Wavelet scales remain a sensitive measure of the interplay between Landau fragmentation and the spreading width in the description of the fine structure of giant resonances