Effects of particle-number conservation on heat capacity of nuclei

By applying the particle-number projection to the finite-temperature BCS theory, the $S$-shaped heat capacity, which has recently been claimed to be a fingerprint of the superfluid-to-normal phase transition in nuclei, is reexamined. It is found that the particle-number (or number-parity) projection gives $S$-shapes in the heat capacity of nuclei which look qualitatively similar to the observed ones. These $S$-shapes are accounted for as effects of the particle-number conservation on the quasiparticle excitations, and occur even when we keep the superfluidity at all temperatures by assuming a constant gap in the BCS theory. The present study illustrates significance of the conservation laws in studying phase transitions of finite systems.Comment: RevTeX4, 12 pages including 5 figures (1 color figure), to be published in PR

Properties of Recurrent Nova T Pyxidis Based on 2011 Outburst

We reexamine the properties of the recurrent nova T Pyxidis based on our own spectroscopic data accompanying with the photometric ones by VSOLJ (Variable Star Observers League in Japan) during 2011 outburst. One of the purpose of this paper is whether a missing outburst could be happen around 1988-1989. Comparing the 2011 outburst data with previous ones, we may conclude that any essential difference can not be found. Accordingly it is difficult to deny a small possibility of a ”missing” outburst from 1988 to 1989, taking into account the seasonal gap in its observation for northern hemisphere observers . The problem whether IM Normae belongs to be a member of T Pyx subclass or not is to be postponed by its next outburst taking into account of T Pyx’s peculiar spectral behavior