B-Spline Finite Elements and their Efficiency in Solving Relativistic Mean Field Equations

A finite element method using B-splines is presented and compared with a conventional finite element method of Lagrangian type. The efficiency of both methods has been investigated at the example of a coupled non-linear system of Dirac eigenvalue equations and inhomogeneous Klein-Gordon equations which describe a nuclear system in the framework of relativistic mean field theory. Although, FEM has been applied with great success in nuclear RMF recently, a well known problem is the appearance of spurious solutions in the spectra of the Dirac equation. The question, whether B-splines lead to a reduction of spurious solutions is analyzed. Numerical expenses, precision and behavior of convergence are compared for both methods in view of their use in large scale computation on FEM grids with more dimensions. A B-spline version of the object oriented C++ code for spherical nuclei has been used for this investigation.Comment: 27 pages, 30 figure

Light Nuclei near Neutron and Proton Drip Lines in the Relativistic Mean-Field Theory

We have made a detailed study of the ground-state properties of nuclei in the light mass region with atomic numbers Z=10-22 in the framework of the relativistic mean-field (RMF) theory. The nonlinear $\sigma\omega$ model with scalar self-interaction has been employed. The RMF calculations have been performed in an axially deformed configuration using the force NL-SH. We have considered nuclei about the stability line as well as those close to proton and neutron drip lines. It is shown that the RMF results provide a good agreement with the available empirical data. The RMF predictions also show a reasonably good agreement with those of the mass models. It is observed that nuclei in this mass region are found to possess strong deformations and exhibit shape changes all along the isotopic chains. The phenomenon of the shape coexistence is found to persist near the stability line as well as near the drip lines. It is shown that the magic number N=28 is quenched strongly, thus enabling the corresponding nuclei to assume strong deformations. Nuclei near the neutron and proton drip lines in this region are also shown to be strongly deformed.Comment: 49 pages Latex, 12 postscript figures, to appear in Nuclear Physics

Computer program for the relativistic mean field description of the ground state properties of even-even axially deformed nuclei

A Fortran program for the calculation of the ground state properties of axially deformed even-even nuclei in the relativistic framework is presented. In this relativistic mean field (RMF) approach a set of coupled differential equations namely the Dirac equation with potential terms for the nucleons and the Glein-Gordon type equations with sources for the meson and the electromagnetic fields are to be solved self-consistently. The well tested basis expansion method is used for this purpose. Accordingly a set of harmonic oscillator basis generated by an axially deformed potential are used in the expansion. The solution gives the nucleon spinors, the fields and level occupancies, which are used in the calculation of the ground state properties.Comment: 18 pages, LaTex, 6 p.s figures, To appear in Comput. Phys. Commu

Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in coordinate space: finite element solution for a nuclear system with spherical symmetry

A C++ code for the solution of the relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in coordinate space is presented. The theory describes a nucleus as a relativistic system of baryons and mesons. The RHB model is applied in the self-consistent mean-field approximation to the description of ground state properties of spherical nuclei. Finite range interactions are included to describe pairing correlations and the coupling to particle continuum states. Finite element methods are used in the coordinate space discretization of the coupled system of Dirac-Hartree-Bogoliubov integro-differential eigenvalue equations, and Klein-Gordon equations for the meson fields. The bisection method is used in the solution of the resulting generalized algebraic eigenvalue problem, and the biconjugate gradient method for the systems of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations, respectively.Comment: PostScript, 32 pages, to be published in Computer Physics Communictions (1997

Saturation properties and incompressibility of nuclear matter: A consistent determination from nuclear masses

Starting with a two-body effective nucleon-nucleon interaction, it is shown that the infinite nuclear matter model of atomic nuclei is more appropriate than the conventional Bethe-Weizsacker like mass formulae to extract saturation properties of nuclear matter from nuclear masses. In particular, the saturation density thus obtained agrees with that of electron scattering data and the Hartree-Fock calculations. For the first time using nuclear mass formula, the radius constant $r_0$=1.138 fm and binding energy per nucleon $a_v$ = -16.11 MeV, corresponding to the infinite nuclear matter, are consistently obtained from the same source. An important offshoot of this study is the determination of nuclear matter incompressibility $K_{\infty}$ to be 288$\pm$ 28 MeV using the same source of nuclear masses as input.Comment: 14 latex pages, five figures available on request ( to appear in Phy. Rev. C

Superheavy Nuclei in the Relativistic Mean Field Theory

We have carried out a study of superheavy nuclei in the framework of the Relativistic Mean-Field theory. Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) calculations have been performed for nuclei with large proton and neutron numbers. A finite-range pairing force of Gogny type has been used in the RHB calculations. The ground-state properties of very heavy nuclei with atomic numbers Z=100-114 and neutron numbers N=154-190 have been obtained. The results show that in addition to N=184 the neutron numbers N=160 and N=166 exhibit an extra stability as compared to their neighbors. For the case of protons the atomic number Z=106 is shown to demonstrate a closed-shell behavior in the region of well deformed nuclei about N=160. The proton number Z=114 also indicates a shell closure. Indications for a doubly magic character at Z=106 and N=160 are observed. Implications of shell closures on a possible synthesis of superheavy nuclei are discussed.Comment: 29 pages Latex, 13 ps figures, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Eikonal Reaction Theory for Neutron-Removal Reaction

We present an accurate method of treating the one-neutron removal reaction at intermediate incident energies induced by both nuclear and Coulomb interactions. In the method, the nuclear and Coulomb breakup processes are consistently treated by the method of continuum discretized coupled channels without making the adiabatic approximation to the Coulomb interaction, so that the removal cross section calculated never diverges. This method is applied to recently measured one-neutron removal cross section for $^{31}$Ne+$^{12}$C scattering at 230 MeV/nucleon and $^{31}$Ne+$^{208}$Pb scattering at 234 MeV/nucleon. The spectroscopic factor and the asymptotic normalization coefficient of the last neutron in $^{31}$Ne are evaluated.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Model--space approach to 1S0^{1}S_{0} neutron and proton pairing with the Bonn meson--exchange potentials

In this work we calculate neutron and proton energy gaps in neutron star matter, using the Bonn meson--exchange interactions and a model--space approach to the gap equation. This approach allows a consistent calculation of energy gaps and single particle energies with the model--space Brueckner--Hartree--Fock (MBHF) method, without double counting of two--particle correlations. Neutron energy gaps are calculated at zero and finite temperature. Proton energy gaps are calculated at beta equilibrium, and it is shown that the inclusion of muons has a significant effect. The results are compared with those of other works, and the implications for neutron star physics are briefly discussed.Comment: uuencoded file, 19 pages, 15 figures include

Isospin Dependence of the Spin-Orbit Force and Effective Nuclear Potentials,

The isospin dependence of the spin-orbit potential is investigated for an effective Skyrme-like energy functional suitable for density dependent Hartree-Fock calculations. The magnitude of the isospin dependence is obtained from a fit to experimental data on finite spherical nuclei. It is found to be close to that of relativistic Hartree models. Consequently, the anomalous kink in the isotope shifts of Pb nuclei is well reproduced.Comment: Revised, 11 pages (Revtex) and 2 figures available upon request, Preprint MPA-833, Physical Review Letters (in press)

Extended Thomas-Fermi approximation to the one-body density matrix

The one-body density matrix is derived within the Extended Thomas-Fermi approximation. This has been done starting from the Wigner-Kirkwood distribution function for a non-local single-particle potential. The links between this new approach to the density matrix with former ones available in the literature are widely discussed. The semiclassical Hartree-Fock energy at Extended Thomas-Fermi level is also obtained in the case of a non-local one-body Hamiltonian. Numerical applications are performed using the Gogny and Brink-Boeker effective interactions. The semiclassical binding energies and root mean square radii are compared with the fully quantal ones and with those obtained using the Strutinsky averaged method.Comment: 27 pages, LateX, and 2 PostScript figures, (submitted to Nucl. Phys. A