Relativistic mean-field description of the dynamics of giant resonances

The relativistic mean-field theory provides a framework in which the nuclear many-body problem is described as a self-consistent system of nucleons and mesons. In the mean-field approximation, the self-consistent time evolution of the nuclear system describes the dynamics of collective motion: nuclear compressibility from monopole resonances, regular and chaotic dynamics of isoscalar and isovector collective vibrations.Comment: LaTeX, 10 pages, 5 figures, Invited Talk, Topical Conference on Giant resonances, Varenna, May 1998, to be published in Nucl. Phys.

The Proton Electric Pygmy Dipole Resonance

The evolution of the low-lying E1 strength in proton-rich nuclei is analyzed in the framework of the self-consistent relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) model and the relativistic quasiparticle random-phase approximation (RQRPA). Model calculations are performed for a series of N=20 isotones and Z=18 isotopes. For nuclei close to the proton drip-line, the occurrence of pronounced dipole peaks is predicted in the low-energy region below 10 MeV excitation energy. From the analysis of the proton and neutron transition densities and the structure of the RQRPA amplitudes, it is shown that these states correspond to the proton pygmy dipole resonance.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Accuracy of BCS-based approximations for pairing in small Fermi systems

We analyze the accuracy of BCS-based approximations for calculating correlation energies and odd-even energy differences in 2-component fermionic systems with a small number of pairs. The analysis is focused on comparing BCS and projected BCS treatments with the exact solution of the pairing Hamiltonian, considering parameter ranges appropriate for nuclear pairing energies. We find that the projected BCS is quite accurate over the entire range of coupling strengths in spaces of up to about 20 doubly degenerate orbitals. It is also quite accurate for two cases we considered with a more realistic Hamiltonian, representing the nuclei around 117Sn and 207Pb. However, the projected BCS significantly underestimates the energies for much larger spaces when the pairing is weak.Comment: 10 pages; 14 figure

Relativistic description of exotic collective excitation phenomena in atomic nuclei

The low-lying dipole and quadrupole states in neutron rich nuclei, are studied within the fully self-consistent relativistic quasiparticle random-phase approximation (RQRPA), formulated in the canonical basis of the Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov model (RHB), which is extended to include the density dependent interactions. In heavier nuclei, the low-lying E1 excited state is identified as a pygmy dipole resonance (PDR), i.e. as a collective mode of excess neutrons oscillating against a proton-neutron core. Isotopic dependence of the PDR is characterized by a crossing between the PDR and one-neutron separation energies. Already at moderate proton-neutron asymmetry the PDR peak is calculated above the neutron emission threshold, indicating important implications for the observation of the PDR in (gamma,gamma') scattering, and on the theoretical predictions of the radiative neutron capture rates in neutron-rich nuclei. In addition, a novel method is suggested for determining the neutron skin of nuclei, based on measurement of excitation energies of the Gamow-Teller resonance relative to the isobaric analog state.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, invited talk at the international workshop "Blueprints for the nucleus: From First Principles to Collective Motion", May 17-22. 2004, Istanbul, Turkey; to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Toroidal dipole resonances in the relativistic random phase approximation

The isoscalar toroidal dipole strength distributions in spherical nuclei are calculated in the framework of a fully consistent relativistic random phase approximation. It is suggested that the recently observed "low-lying component of the isoscalar dipole mode" might in fact correspond to the toroidal giant dipole resonance. Although predicted by several theoretical models, the existence of toroidal resonances has not yet been confirmed in experiment. The strong mixing between the toroidal resonance and the dipole compression mode might help to explain the large discrepancy between theory and experiment on the position of isoscalar giant dipole resonances.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures; Phys.Rev.C, in prin

Pygmy dipole resonances in relativistic random phase approximation

The isovector dipole response in $^{208}$Pb is described in the framework of a fully self-consistent relativistic random phase approximation. The NL3 parameter set for the effective mean-field Lagrangian with nonlinear meson self-interaction terms, used in the present calculations, reproduces ground state properties as well as the excitation energies of giant resonances in nuclei. In addition to the isovector dipole resonance in $^{208}$Pb, the present analysis predicts the occurrence of low-lying E1 peaks in the energy region between 7 and 11 MeV. In particular, a collective state has been identified whose dynamics correspond to that of a dipole pygmy resonance: the vibration of the excess neutrons against the inert core composed of equal number of protons and neutrons.Comment: LaTex 7 pages, 4 eps Figs, submitted to Phys. Lett.

Microscopic calculation of 240Pu scission with a finite-range effective force

Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations of hot fission in $^{240}\textrm{Pu}$ have been performed with a newly-implemented code that uses the D1S finite-range effective interaction. The hot-scission line is identified in the quadrupole-octupole-moment coordinate space. Fission-fragment shapes are extracted from the calculations. A benchmark calculation for $^{226}\textrm{Th}$ is obtained and compared to results in the literature. In addition, technical aspects of the use of HFB calculations for fission studies are examined in detail. In particular, the identification of scission configurations, the sensitivity of near-scission calculations to the choice of collective coordinates in the HFB iterations, and the formalism for the adjustment of collective-variable constraints are discussed. The power of the constraint-adjustment algorithm is illustrated with calculations near the critical scission configurations with up to seven simultaneous constraints.Comment: 18 pages, 24 figures, to be published in Physical Review

Nuclear Halos and Drip Lines in Symmetry-Conserving Continuum HFB Theory

We review the properties of nuclear halos and nuclear skins in drip line nuclei in the framework of the spherical Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory with continuum effects and projection on good particle number with the Gogny force. We first establish the position of the un-projected HFB drip lines for the two most employed parametrizations of the Gogny force and show that the use of finite-range interactions leads almost always to small-sized halos, even in the least bound nuclei, which is in agreement with most mean-field predictions. We also discuss the size of the neutron skin at the drip line and its relation to neutron asymmetry. The impact of particle-number projection and its conceptual consequences near the drip line are analyzed in detail. In particular, we discuss the role of the chemical potential in a projected theory and the criteria required to define the drip line. We show that including particle number projection can shift the latter, in particular near closed shells. We notice that, as a result, the size of the halo can be increased due to larger pairing correlations. However, combining the most realistic pairing interaction, a proper treatment of the continuum and particle number projection does not permit to reproduce the very large halos observed in very light nuclei.Comment: Re-submitted to Phys. Rev. C after Referee's review. Layout of figures changed to cope with editor's requirement