arXiv subjects

D. J. Rowe

Publications and source records attributed to D. J. Rowe.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

The many-nucleon theory of nuclear collective structure and its macroscopic limits: an algebraic perspective

The nuclear collective models introduced by Bohr, Mottelson and Rainwater, together with the Mayer-Jensen shell model, have provided the central framework for the development of nuclear physics. This paper reviews the microscopic evolution of the collective models and their underlying foundations. In particular, it is shown that the Bohr-Mottelson models have expressions as macroscopic limits of microscopic models that have precisely-defined expressions in many-nucleon quantum mechanics. Understanding collective models in this way is especially useful because it enables the analysis of nuclear properties in terms of them to be revisited and reassessed in the light of their microscopic foundations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

A computer code for calculations in the algebraic collective model of the atomic nucleus

A Maple code is presented for algebraic collective model (ACM) calculations. The ACM is an algebraic version of the Bohr model of the atomic nucleus, in which all required matrix elements are derived by exploiting the model's SU(1,1) x SO(5) dynamical group. This paper reviews the mathematical formulation of the ACM, and serves as a manual for the code. The code enables a wide range of model Hamiltonians to be analysed. This range includes essentially all Hamiltonians that are rational functions of the model's quadrupole moments $q_M$ and are at most quadratic in the corresponding conjugate momenta $π_N$ ($-2\le M,N\le 2$). The code makes use of expressions for matrix elements derived elsewhere and newly derived matrix elements of the operators $[π\otimes q \otimesπ]_0$ and $[π\otimesπ]_{LM}$. The code is made efficient by use of an analytical expression for the needed SO(5)-reduced matrix elements, and use of SO(5)$\,\supset\,$SO(3) Clebsch-Gordan coefficients obtained from precomputed data files provided with the code.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2013

The fundamental role of symmetry in nuclear models

The purpose of these lectures is to illustrate how symmetry and pattern recognition play essential roles in the progression from experimental observation to an understanding of nuclear phenomena in terms of interacting neutrons and protons. We do not discuss weak interactions nor relativistic and sub-nucleon degrees of freedom. The explicit use of symmetry and the power of algebraic methods, in combination with analytical and geometrical methods are illustrated by their use in deriving a shell-model description of nuclear rotational dynamics and the structure of deformed nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Vector coherent state representations and their inner products

Several advances have extended the power and versatility of coherent state theory to the extent that it has become a vital tool in the representation theory of Lie groups and their Lie algebras. Representative applications are reviewed and some new developments are introduced. The examples given are chosen to illustrate special features of the scalar and vector coherent state constructions and how they work in practical situations. Comparisons are made with Mackey's theory of induced representations. For simplicity, we focus on square integrable (discrete series) unitary representations although many of the techniques apply more generally, with minor adjustment.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Dual pairing of symmetry groups and dynamical groups in physics

This article reviews many manifestations and applications of dual representations of pairs of groups, primarily in atomic and nuclear physics. Examples are given to show how such paired representations are powerful aids in understanding the dynamics associated with shell-model coupling schemes and in identifying the physical situations for which a given scheme is most appropriate. In particular, they suggest model Hamiltonians that are diagonal in the various coupling schemes. The dual pairing of group representations has been applied profitably in mathematics to the study of invariant theory. We show that parallel applications to the theory of symmetry and dynamical groups in physics are equally valuable. In particular, the pairing of the representations of a discrete group with those of a continuous Lie group or those of a compact Lie with those of a non-compact Lie group makes it possible to infer many properties of difficult groups from those of simpler groups. This review starts with the representations of the symmetric and unitary groups, which are used extensively in the many-particle quantum mechanics of bosonic and fermionic systems. It gives a summary of the many solutions and computational techniques for solving problems that arise in applications of symmetry methods in physics and which result from the famous Schur-Weyl duality theorem for the pairing of these representations. It continues to examine many chains of symmetry groups and dual chains of dynamical groups associated with the several coupling schemes in atomic and nuclear shell models and the valuable insights and applications that result from this examination.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Embedded Representations and Quasi-Dynamical Symmetry

This presentation explains why models with a dynamical symmetry often work extraordinarily well even in the presence of large symmetry breaking interactions. A model may be a caricature of a more realistic system with a "quasi-dynamical" symmetry. The existence of quasi-dynamical symmetry in physical systems and its significance for understanding collective dynamics in complex nuclei is explained in terms of the precise mathematical concept of an "embedded representation". Examples are given which exhibit quasi-dynamical symmetry to a remarkably high degree. Understanding this unusual symmetry and why it occurs, is important for recognizing why dynamical symmetries appear to be much moreprevalent than they would otherwise have any right to be and for interpreting the implications of a model's successes. We indicate when quasi-dynamical symmetry is expected to apply and present a challenge as to how best to make use of this potentially powerful algebraic structure.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2010

Eigenstate Estimation for the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) Hamiltonian

We show how multi-level BCS Hamiltonians of finite systems in the strong pairing interaction regime can be accurately approximated using multi-dimensional shifted harmonic oscillator Hamiltonians. In the Shifted Harmonic Approximation (SHA), discrete quantum state variables are approximated as continuous ones and algebraic Hamiltonians are replaced by differential operators. Using the SHA, the results of the BCS theory, such as the gap equations, can be easily derived without the BCS approximation. In addition, the SHA preserves the symmetries associated with the BCS Hamiltonians. Lastly, for all interaction strengths, the SHA can be used to identify the most important basis states -- allowing accurate computation of low-lying eigenstates by diagonalizing BCS Hamiltonians in small subspaces of what may otherwise be vastly larger Hilbert spaces.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Construction of SO(5)>SO(3) spherical harmonics and Clebsch-Gordan coefficients

The SO(5)>SO(3) spherical harmonics form a natural basis for expansion of nuclear collective model angular wave functions. They underlie the recently-proposed algebraic method for diagonalization of the nuclear collective model Hamiltonian in an SU(1,1)xSO(5) basis. We present a computer code for explicit construction of the SO(5)>SO(3) spherical harmonics and use them to compute the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients needed for collective model calculations in an SO(3)-coupled basis. With these Clebsch-Gordan coefficients it becomes possible to compute the matrix elements of collective model observables by purely algebraic methods.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2007

Construction of SU(3) irreps in canonical SO(3)-coupled bases

Alternative canonical methods for defining canonical SO(3)-coupled bases for SU(3) irreps are considered and compared. It is shown that a basis that diagonalizes a particular linear combination of SO(3) invariants in the SU(3) universal enveloping algebra gives basis states that have good $K$ quantum numbers in the asymptotic rotor-model limit.

math-ph↗

arXiv2006

An equations-of-motion approach to quantum mechanics: application to a model phase transition

We present a generalized equations-of-motion method that efficiently calculates energy spectra and matrix elements for algebraic models. The method is applied to a 5-dimensional quartic oscillator that exhibits a quantum phase transition between vibrational and rotational phases. For certain parameters, 10 by 10 matrices give better results than obtained by diagonalising 1000 by 1000 matrices.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2005

Vector coherent state theory of the generic representations of so(5) in an so(3) basis

For applications of group theory in quantum mechanics, one generally needs explicit matrix representations of the spectrum generating algebras that arise in bases that reduce the symmetry group of some Hamiltonian of interest. Here we use vector coherent state techniques to develop an algorithm for constructing the matrices for arbitrary finite-dimensional irreps of the SO(5) Lie algebra in an SO(3) basis. The SO(3) subgroup of SO(5) is defined by regarding SO(5) as linear transformations of the five-dimensional space of an SO(3) irrep of angular momentum two. A need for such irreps arises in the nuclear collective model of quadrupole vibrations and rotations. The algorithm has been implemented in MAPLE, and some tables of results are presented.

math-ph↗

arXiv2005

An algebraic approach to problems with polynomial Hamiltonians on Euclidean spaces

Explicit expressions are given for the actions and radial matrix elements of basic radial observables on multi-dimensional spaces in a continuous sequence of orthonormal bases for unitary SU(1,1) irreps. Explicit expressions are also given for SO(N)-reduced matrix elements of basic orbital observables. These developments make it possible to determine the matrix elements of polynomial and a other Hamiltonians analytically, to within SO(N) Clebsch-Gordan coefficients, and to select an optimal basis for a particular problem such that the expansion of eigenfunctions is most rapidly convergent.

math-ph↗

arXiv2003

A computationally tractable version of the collective model

A computationally tractable version of the Bohr-Mottelson collective model is presented which makes it possible to diagonalize realistic collective models and obtain convergent results in relatively small appropriately chosen subspaces of the collective model Hilbert space. Special features of the proposed model is that it makes use of the beta wave functions given analytically by the softened-beta version of the Wilets-Jean model, proposed by Elliott et al., and a simple algorithm for computing SO(5) > SO(3) spherical harmonics. The latter has much in common with the methods of Chacon, Moshinsky, and Sharp but is conceptually and computationally simpler. Results are presented for collective models ranging from the sherical vibrator to the Wilets-Jean and axially symmetric rotor-vibrator models.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2000

Restoration of particle number as a good quantum number in BCS theory

As shown in previous work, number projection can be carried out analytically for states defined in a quasi-particle scheme when the states are expressed in a coherent state representation. The wave functions of number-projected states are well-known in the theory of orthogonal polynomials as Schur functions. Moreover, the functions needed in pairing theory are a particularly simple class of Schur functions that are easily constructed by means of recursion relations. It is shown that complete sets of states can be projected from corresponding quasi-particle states and that such states retain many of the properties of the quasi-particle states from which they derive. It is also shown that number projection can be used to construct a complete set of orthogonal states classified by generalized seniority for any nucleus.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv1999

SU(3) quasi-dynamical symmetry as an organizational mechanism for generating nuclear rotational motions

The phenomenological symplectic model with a Davidson potential is used to construct rotational states for a rare-earth nucleus with microscopic wave functions. The energy levels and E2 transitions obatined are in remarkably close agreement (to within a few percent) with those of the rotor model with vibrational shape fluctuations that are adiabatically decoupled from the rotational degrees of freedom. An analysis of the states in terms of their SU(3) content shows that SU(3) is a very poor dynamical symmetry but an excellent quasi-dynamical symmetry for the model. It is argued that such quasi-dynamical symmetry can be expected for any Hamiltonian that reproduces the observed low-energy properties of a well-deformed nucleus, whenever the latter are well-described by the nuclear rotor model.

nucl-th↗

arXiv1998

Representations of the Weyl group and Wigner functions for SU(3)

Bases for SU(3) irreps are constructed on a space of three-particle tensor products of two-dimensional harmonic oscillator wave functions. The Weyl group is represented as the symmetric group of permutations of the particle coordinates of these space. Wigner functions for SU(3) are expressed as products of SU(2) Wigner functions and matrix elements of Weyl transformations. The constructions make explicit use of dual reductive pairs which are shown to be particularly relevant to problems in optics and quantum interferometry.

math-ph↗

arXiv1998

An exactly solvable model of a superconducting to rotational phase transition

We consider a many-fermion model which exhibits a transition from a superconducting to a rotational phase with variation of a parameter in its Hamiltonian. The model has analytical solutions in its two limits due to the presence of dynamical symmetries. However, the symmetries are basically incompatible with one another; no simple solution exists in intermediate situations. Exact (numerical) solutions are possible and enable one to study the behavior of competing but incompatible symmetries and the phase transitions that result in a semirealistic situation. The results are remarkably simple and shed light on the nature of phase transitions.

nucl-th↗