Collective coordinates, shape transitions and shape coexistence: a microscopic approach

We investigate a description of shape-mixing and shape-transitions using collective coordinates. To that end we apply a theory of adiabatic large-amplitude motion to a simplified nuclear shell-model, where the approximate results can be contrasted with exact diagonalisations. We find excellent agreement for different regimes, and contrast the results with those from a more standard calculation using a quadrupole constraint. We show that the method employed in this work selects diabatic (crossing) potential energy curves where these are appropriate, and discuss the implications for a microscopic study of shape coexistence.Comment: 20 pages, including 6 ps file

Diabatic and Adiabatic Collective Motion in a Model Pairing System

Large amplitude collective motion is investigated for a model pairing Hamiltonian containing an avoided level crossing. A classical theory of collective motion for the adiabatic limit is applied utilising either a time-dependent mean-field theory or a direct parametrisation of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. A modified local harmonic equation is formulated to take account of the Nambu-Goldstone mode. It turns out that in some cases the system selects a diabatic path. Requantizing the collective Hamiltonian, a reasonable agreement with an exact calculation for the low-lying levels are obtained for both weak and strong pairing force. This improves on results of the conventional Born-Oppenheimer approximation.Comment: 23 pages, 7 ps figures. Latex, uses revtex and graphic

On the nature of the phase transitions in two-dimensional type II superconductors

We have simulated the thermodynamics of vortices in a thin film of a type-II superconductor. We make the lowest Landau level approximation, and use quasi-periodic boundary conditions. Our work is consistent with the results of previous simulations where evidence was found for an apparent first order transition between the vortex liquid state and the vortex crystal state. We show, however, that these results are just an artifact of studying systems which are too small. There are substantial difficulties in simulating larger systems using traditional approaches. By means of the optimal energy diffusion algorithm we have been able to study systems containing up to about one thousand vortices, and for these larger systems the evidence for a first order transition disappears. By studying both crystalline and hexatic order, we show that the KTHNY scenario seems to apply, where melting from the crystal is first to the hexatic liquid state and next to the normal vortex liquid, in both cases via a continuous transition.Comment: 26 pages, 26 composite figures. Pre-proof versio