Solution of the Skyrme HF+BCS equation on a 3D mesh. II. A new version of the Ev8 code

We describe a new version of the EV8 code that solves the nuclear Skyrme-Hartree-Fock+BCS problem using a 3-dimensional cartesian mesh. Several new features have been implemented with respect to the earlier version published in 2005. In particular, the numerical accuracy has been improved for a given mesh size by (i) implementing a new solver to determine the Coulomb potential for protons (ii) implementing a more precise method to calculate the derivatives on a mesh that had already been implemented earlier in our beyond-mean-field codes. The code has been made very flexible to enable the use of a large variety of Skyrme energy density functionals that have been introduced in the last years. Finally, the treatment of the constraints that can be introduced in the mean-field equations has been improved. The code Ev8 is today the tool of choice to study the variation of the energy of a nucleus from its ground state to very elongated or triaxial deformations with a well-controlled accuracy.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figure

Fitting Skyrme functionals using linear response theory

Recently, it has been recently shown that the linear response theory in symmetric nuclear matter can be used as a tool to detect finite size instabilities for different Skyrme functionals. In particular it has been shown that there is a correlation between the density at which instabilities occur in infinite matter and the instabilities in finite nuclei. In this article we present a new fitting protocol that uses this correlation to add new additional constraint in Symmetric Infinite Nuclear Matter in order to ensure the stability of finite nuclei against matter fluctuation in all spin and isospin channels. As an application, we give the parameters set for a new Skyrme functional which includes central and spin-orbit parts and which is free from instabilities by construction.Comment: Proceeding of 19th Nuclear Physics Workshop "Marie & Pierre Curie" Kazimierz 201

Criticality in the configuration-mixed interacting boson model : (1) U(5)−Q^(χ)⋅Q^(χ)U(5)-\hat{Q}(\chi)\cdot\hat{Q}(\chi) mixing

The case of U(5)--$\hat{Q}(\chi)\cdot\hat{Q}(\chi)$ mixing in the configuration-mixed Interacting Boson Model is studied in its mean-field approximation. Phase diagrams with analytical and numerical solutions are constructed and discussed. Indications for first-order and second-order shape phase transitions can be obtained from binding energies and from critical exponents, respectively

Generalized seniority for the shell model with realistic interactions

The generalized seniority scheme has long been proposed as a means of dramatically reducing the dimensionality of nuclear shell model calculations, when strong pairing correlations are present. However, systematic benchmark calculations, comparing results obtained in a model space truncated according to generalized seniority with those obtained in the full shell model space, are required to assess the viability of this scheme. Here, a detailed comparison is carried out, for semimagic nuclei taken in a full major shell and with realistic interactions. The even-mass and odd-mass Ca isotopes are treated in the generalized seniority scheme, for generalized seniority v<=3. Results for level energies, orbital occupations, and electromagnetic observables are compared with those obtained in the full shell model space.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures; published in Phys. Rev.

A theoretical description of energy spectra and two-neutron separation energies for neutron-rich zirconium isotopes

Very recently the atomic masses of neutron-rich Zr isotopes, from $^{96}$Zr to $^{104}$Zr, have been measured with high precision. Using a schematic Interacting Boson Model (IBM) Hamiltonian, the evolution from spherical to deformed shapes along the chain of Zr isotopes, describing at the same time the excitation energies as well as the two-neutron separation energies, can be rather well reproduced. The interplay between phase transitions and configuration mixing of intruder excitations in this mass region is succinctly addressed.Comment: Accepted in European Journal of Physics

The tensor part of the Skyrme energy density functional. III. Time-odd terms at high spin

This article extends previous studies on the effect of tensor terms in the Skyrme energy density functional by breaking of time-reversal invariance. We have systematically probed the impact of tensor terms on properties of superdeformed rotational bands calculated within the cranked Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach for different parameterizations covering a wide range of values for the isoscalar and isovector tensor coupling constants. We analyze in detail the contribution of the tensor terms to the energies and dynamical moments of inertia and study their impact on quasi-particle spectra. Special attention is devoted to the time-odd tensor terms, the effect of variations of their coupling constants and finite-size instabilities.Comment: 28 pages, 34 figure

Quadrupole collective variables in the natural Cartan-Weyl basis

The matrix elements of the quadrupole collective variables, emerging from collective nuclear models, are calculated in the natural Cartan-Weyl basis of O(5) which is a subgroup of a covering $SU(1,1)\times O(5)$ structure. Making use of an intermediate set method, explicit expressions of the matrix elements are obtained in a pure algebraic way, fixing the $\gamma$-rotational structure of collective quadrupole models.Comment: submitted to Journal of Physics

The platinum nuclei: concealed configuration mixing and shape coexistence

The role of configuration mixing in the Pt region is investigated. For this chain of isotopes, the nature of the ground state changes smoothly, being spherical around mass $A\sim 174$ and $A\sim 192$ and deformed around the mid-shell N=104 region. This has a dramatic effect on the systematics of the energy spectra as compared to the systematics in the Pb and Hg nuclei. Interacting Boson Model with configuration mixing calculations are presented for gyromagnetic factors, $\alpha$-decay hindrance factors, and isotope shifts. The necessity of incorporating intruder configurations to obtain an accurate description of the latter properties becomes evident.Comment: Accepted in Physical Review

Configuration mixing in 188^{188}Pb : band structure and electromagnetic properties

In the present paper, we carry out a detailed analysis of the presence and mixing of various families of collective bands in $^{188}$Pb. Making use of the interacting boson model, we construct a particular intermediate basis that can be associated with the unperturbed bands used in more phenomenological studies. We use the E2 decay to construct a set of collective bands and discuss in detail the B(E2)-values. We also perform an analysis of these theoretical results (Q, B(E2)) to deduce an intrinsic quadrupole moment and the associated quadrupole deformation parameter, using an axially deformed rotor model.Comment: submitted to pr