Beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ge, Se, Kr, Sr, Ru, and Pd isotopes from deformed quasiparticle random-phase approximation

Beta-decay properties of even and odd-A neutron-rich Ge, Se, Kr, Sr, Ru, and Pd isotopes involved in the astrophysical rapid neutron capture process are studied within a deformed proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The underlying mean field is described self-consistently from deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock calculations with pairing correlations. Residual interactions in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels are also included in the formalism. The isotopic evolution of the various nuclear equilibrium shapes and the corresponding charge radii are investigated in all the isotopic chains. The energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength as well as the beta-decay half-lives are discussed and compared with the available experimental information. It is shown that nuclear deformation plays a significant role in the description of the decay properties in this mass region. Reliable predictions of the strength distributions are essential to evaluate decay rates in astrophysical scenarios.Comment: 16 pages, 26 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1403.104

Weak interaction rates for Kr and Sr waiting-point nuclei under rp-process conditions

Weak interaction rates are studied in neutron deficient Kr and Sr waiting-point isotopes in ranges of densities and temperatures relevant for the rp-process. The nuclear structure is described within a microscopic model (deformed QRPA) that reproduces not only the half-lives but also the Gamow-Teller strength distributions recently measured. The various sensitivities of the decay rates to both density and temperature are discussed. Continuum electron capture is shown to contribute significantly to the weak rates at rp-process conditions.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Contribution of excited states to stellar weak-interaction rates in odd-A nuclei

Weak-interaction rates, including beta-decay and electron capture, are studied in several odd-A nuclei in the pf-shell region at various densities and temperatures of astrophysical interest. Special attention is paid to the relative contribution to these rates of thermally populated excited states in the decaying nucleus. The nuclear structure involved in the weak processes is studied within a quasiparticle random-phase approximation with residual interactions in both particle-hole and particle-particle channels on top of a deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock mean field with pairing correlations. In the range of densities and temperatures considered, it is found that the total rates do not differ much from the rates of the ground state fully populated. In any case, the changes are not larger than the uncertainties due to the nuclear model dependence of the rates.Comment: 13 pages, 20 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1304.215

Shape mixing and beta-decay properties of neutron-deficient Kr and Sr isotopes

Gamow-Teller strength distributions and beta-decay half-lives in neutron-deficient Kr and Sr isotopes are investigated within a deformed quasiparticle random phase approximation. The approach is based on a selfconsistent Skyrme Hartree-Fock mean field with pairing correlations and residual separable particle-hole and particle-particle forces. A simple two-level model is used to mix the nuclear shapes into the physical ground state. Good agreement with experiment is found with shape mixing coefficients which are consistent with those obtained phenomenologically from mixing of rotational bands.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Half-lives of rp-process waiting point nuclei

We give results of microscopic calculations for the half-lives of various proton-rich nuclei in the mass region A=60-90, which are involved in the astrophysical rp-process, and which are needed as input parameters of numerical simulations in Nuclear Astrophysics. The microscopic formalism consists of a deformed QRPA approach that involves a selfconsistent quasiparticle deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock basis and residual spin-isospin separable forces in both the particle-hole and particle-particle channels. The strength of the particle-hole residual interaction is chosen to be consistent with the Skyrme effective force and mean field basis, while that of the particle-particle is globally fixed to 0.07 MeV after a judicious choice from comparison to experimental half-lives. We study and discuss the sensitivity of the half-lives to deformation and residual interactions.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Eur. Phys. J.

Effects of deformation on the beta-decay patterns of light even-even and odd-mass Hg and Pt isotopes

Bulk and decay properties, including deformation energy curves, charge mean square radii, Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions, and beta-decay half-lives, are studied in neutron-deficient even-even and odd-A Hg and Pt isotopes. The nuclear structure is described microscopically from deformed quasiparticle random-phase approximation calculations with residual interactions in both particle-hole and particle-particle channels, performed on top of a self-consistent deformed quasiparticle Skyrme Hartree-Fock basis. The observed sensitivity of the, not yet measured, GT strength distributions to deformation is proposed as an additional complementary signature of the nuclear shape. The $\beta$-decay half-lives resulting from these distributions are compared to experiment to demonstrate the ability of the method.Comment: 15 pages, 16 figure

Gamow-Teller properties of the double beta-decay partners 116Cd(Sn) and 150Nd(Sm)

The two Gamow-Teller (GT) branches connecting the double-beta decay partners (116Cd, 116Sn) and (150Nd, 150Sm) with the intermediate nuclei 116In and 150Pm are studied within a microscopic approach based on a deformed proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation built on a Skyrme selfconsistent mean field with pairing correlations and spin-isospin residual forces. The results are compared with the experimental GT strength distributions extracted from charge-exchange reactions. Combining the two branches, the nuclear matrix elements for the two-neutrino double-beta decay are evaluated and compared to experimental values derived from the measured half-lives.Comment: 10 pages, 16 figure

Stellar weak decay rates in neutron-deficient medium-mass nuclei

Weak decay rates under stellar density and temperature conditions holding at the rapid proton capture process are studied in neutron-deficient medium-mass waiting point nuclei extending from Ni up to Sn. Neighboring isotopes to these waiting point nuclei are also included in the analysis. The nuclear structure part of the problem is described within a deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock + BCS + QRPA approach, which reproduces not only the beta-decay half-lives but also the available Gamow-Teller strength distributions, measured under terrestrial conditions. The various sensitivities of the decay rates to both density and temperature are discussed. In particular, we study the impact of contributions coming from thermally populated excited states in the parent nucleus, as well as the competition between beta decays and continuum electron captures.Comment: 24 pages, 16 figure

Beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ca, Ti, and Cr isotopes

Beta-decay properties of neutron-rich Ca, Ti, and Cr isotopes are studied within a deformed proton-neutron quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The underlying mean field is described self-consistently from deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock calculations with pairing correlations. Residual spin-isospin interactions in the particle-hole and particle-particle channels are also included in the formalism. The energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength, the beta-decay feedings, the beta-decay half-lives, and the beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities are discussed and compared with other theoretical results, as well as with the available experimental information. The evolution of these nuclear beta-decay properties is investigated in isotopic chains in a search for structural changes. A reliable estimate of the beta-decay properties in this mass region is a valuable information for evaluating decay rates in astrophysical scenarios.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figure