arXiv subjects

D. Petrellis

Publications and source records attributed to D. Petrellis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Parameter-free deformation variables of the proxy-SU(3) symmetry in even-even actinide, superheavy and hyperheavy nuclei with Z=82-126, N=82-258

Superheavy and hyperheavy nuclei are one of the frontiers of nuclear structure nowadays, while also for many actinides rather limited experimental information exists. Therefore, theoretical methods providing parameter-independent predictions for these nuclei are of particular interest. Such a method is the proxy-SU(3) approximation to the shell model, which has been adequately tested against experimental data in medium-mass and heavy nuclei up to the rare earth region, and has been found to provide reliable, parameter-independent predictions for the collective deformation variables beta and gamma. Within the proxy-SU(3) approach, the SU(3) symmetry of the 3-dimensional harmonic oscillator, which is destroyed beyond the sd shell by the strong spin-orbit interaction, is restored through a unitary transformation. For each nucleus, the most symmetric irreducible representation (irrep) allowed by the Pauli principle and the short-range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, called the highest-weight (hw ) irrep in mathematical language, is found to suffice, except in cases in which the hw irrep turns out to be completely symmetric, so that the next highest weight (nhw) irrep has also to be included. In this article we provide a full collection of the hw and nhw irreps, as well as of the corresponding parameter-free predictions for the deformation variables beta and gamma, for all atomic nuclei ranging from Z=82, N=82 to Z=126, N=258. Several cases exemplifying the use of the collected results for studying the prolate to oblate shape transition, mirror symmetries, as well as the evolution of the collective variables along the valley of stability are also considered.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2026

Parameter-free deformation variables of the proxy-SU(3) symmetry in even-even atomic nuclei with Z=28-82, N=28-126

The proxy-SU(3) approximation to the shell model, which restores the SU(3) symmetry of the 3-dimensional harmonic oscillator beyond the sd shell, predicts the collective deformation variables beta and gamma of even-even atomic nuclei in a parameter-free way, based on the most symmetric irreducible representation (irrep) of SU(3) allowed by the Pauli principle and the short-range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, which in group theoretical language is the highest weight (hw) irrep. In the few cases in which the hw irrep turns out to be completely symmetric, thus being able to accommodate only the ground state band, the next hw (nhw) irrep becomes indispensable. In the present article complete tables of the hw and nhw irreps are given for all atomic nuclei ranging from Z=28, N=28 to Z=82, N=126, along with the corresponding parameter-free predictions for the deformation variables beta and gamma. A few examples using the tabulated results for providing microscopic insight for specific effects in various regions of the nuclear chart are also given.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Triaxial shapes in even-even nuclei: A theoretical overview

Triaxial shapes in even-even nuclei have been considered since the early days of the nuclear collective model. Although many theoretical approaches have been used over the years for their description, no effort appears to have been made for grouping them together and identifying regions on the nuclear chart where the appearance of triaxiality might be favored. In addition, over the last few years, discussion has started on the appearance of small triaxiality in nuclei considered so far as purely axial rotors. In the present work we collect the predictions made by various theoretical approaches and show that pronounced triaxiality appears to be favored within specific stripes on the nuclear chart, with low triaxiality being present in the regions between these stripes, in agreement with parameter-free predictions made by the proxy-SU(3) approximation to the shell model, based on the Pauli principle and the short-range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. The robustness of triaxiality within these stripes is supported by global calculations made in the framework of the Finite-Range Droplet Model (FRDM), which is based on completely different assumptions and possesses parameters fitted in order to reproduce fundamental nuclear properties.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

Robustness of the proxy-SU(3) symmetry in atomic nuclei and the role of the next highest weight irreducible representation

The proxy-SU(3) symmetry predicts, in a parameter-free way, the collective deformation variables beta and gamma in even-even atomic nuclei away from closed shells based on the highest weight irreducible representations (irreps) of SU(3) in the relevant proton and neutron shells, which are the most symmetric irreps allowed by the Pauli principle and the short-range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interactions. The special cases in which the use of the next highest weight irrep of SU(3) becomes necessary are pointed out and numerical results are given for several regions of the nuclear chart, which can be used as input for irrep-mixing calculations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

Preponderance of triaxial shapes in atomic nuclei predicted by the proxy-SU(3) symmetry

The proxy-SU(3) symmetry predicts, in a parameter-free way, based only on the Pauli principle and the short-range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, non-vanishing values of the collective variable gamma almost everywhere across the nuclear chart. Substantial triaxiality with gamma between 15 and 45 degrees is proved to be expected along horizontal and vertical stripes on the nuclear chart, covering the nucleon numbers 22-26, 34-48, 74-80, 116-124, 172-182. Empirical support for these stripes is found by collecting all even-even nuclei for which the first two excited 2+ states are known, along with the B(E2)s connecting them, as well as the second 2+ state to the ground state. The stripes are related to regions in which oblate SU(3) irreducible representations appear, bearing similarity to the appearance of triaxiality within the SU(3)* dynamical symmetry of the interacting boson model-2. Detailed comparisons of the proxy-SU(3) predictions to the data and to predictions by state-of-the-art Monte Carlo shell model calculations for deformed N=94, 96, 98 isotones in the rare earth region show good overall agreement, with the exception of Z=70 and N=94, which correspond to fully symmetric proxy-SU(3) irreps, suggesting that the latter are an artifact of the method which can be amended by considering the influence of the neighboring irreps.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

Phase transitions in N = 40, 60 and 90 nuclei

In this paper we focus on three mass regions where first-order phase transitions occur, namely for $N=40$, 60 and 90. We investigate four isotopic chains (Se, Zr, Mo and Nd) in the framework of microscopic Skyrme-Hartree-Fock + Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer calculations for 15 different parametrizations. The microscopic calculations show the typical behavior expected for first-order phase transitions. To find the best candidate for the critical point phase transition we propose new microscopic position and occupation indices calculated for positive-parity and negative-parity proton and neutron single-quasiparticle states around the Fermi level. The microscopic calculations are completed by macroscopic calculations within the Algebraic Collective Model (ACM), and compared to the experimental data for $^{74}$Se, $^{102}$Mo and $^{150}$Nd, considered to be the best candidates for the critical point nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Self-consistent many-body approach to the electroproduction of hypernuclei

The electroproduction of selected $p$- and $sd$-shell hypernuclei was studied within a many-body approach using realistic interactions between the constituent baryons. The cross sections were computed in distorted-wave impulse approximation using two elementary amplitudes for the electroproduction of the $\Lambda$ hyperon. The structure of the hypernuclei was investigated within the framework of the self-consistent $\Lambda$-nucleon Tamm-Dancoff approach and its extension known as the $\Lambda$-nucleon equation of motion phonon method. Use was made of the NNLOsat chiral potential plus the effective Nijmegen-F YN interaction. The method was first implemented on light nuclei for studying the available experimental data and establishing a relation to other approaches. After this proof test, it was adopted for predicting the electroproduction cross section of the hypernuclei $^{40}_{~\Lambda}$K and $^{48}_{~\Lambda}$K in view of the E12-15-008 experiment in preparation at JLab. On the ground of these predictions, appreciable effects on the spectra are expected to be induced by the YN interaction.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Various aspects of the Deformation Dependent Mass model of nuclear structure

Recently, a variant of the Bohr Hamiltonian was proposed where the mass term is allowed to depend on the beta variable of nuclear deformation. Analytic solutions of this modified Hamiltonian have been obtained using the Davidson and the Kratzer potentials, by employing techniques from supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Apart from the new set of analytic solutions, the newly introduced Deformation-Dependent Mass (DDM) model offered a remedy to the problematic behaviour of the moment of inertia in the Bohr Hamiltonian, where it appears to increase proportionally to the square of beta. In the DDM model the moments of inertia increase at a much lower rate, in agreement with experimental data. The current work presents an application of the DDM-model suitable for the description of nuclei at the point of shape/phase transitions between vibrational and gamma-unstable or prolate deformed nuclei and is based on a method that was successfully applied before in the context of critical point symmetries.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Analytical solutions for the Bohr Hamiltonian with the Woods-Saxon potential

Approximate analytical solutions in closed form are obtained for the 5-dimensional Bohr Hamiltonian with the Woods-Saxon potential, taking advantage of the Pekeris approximation and the exactly soluble one-dimensional extended Woods-Saxon potential with a dip near its surface. Comparison to the data for several gamma-unstable and prolate deformed nuclei indicates that the potential can describe well the ground state and gamma-1 bands of many prolate deformed nuclei corresponding to large enough "well size" and diffuseness, while it fails in describing the beta-1 bands, due to its lack of a hard core, as well as in describing gamma-unstable nuclei, because of the small "well size" and diffuseness they exhibit.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Bohr Hamiltonian with a deformation-dependent mass term: physical meaning of the free parameter

Embedding of the 5-dimensional (5D) space of the Bohr Hamiltonian with a deformation-dependent mass (DDM) into a 6-dimensional (6D) space shows that the free parameter in the dependence of the mass on the deformation is connected to the curvature of the 5D space, with the special case of constant mass corresponding to a flat 5D space. Comparison of the DDM Bohr Hamiltonian to the 5D classical limit of Hamiltonians of the 6D interacting boson model (IBM), shows that the DDM parameter is proportional to the strength of the pairing interaction in the U(5) (vibrational) symmetry limit, while it is proportional to the quadrupole-quadrupole interaction in the SU(3) (rotational) symmetry limit, and to the difference of the pairing interactions among s, d bosons and d bosons alone in the O(6) (gamma-soft) limit. The presence of these interactions leads to a curved 5D space in the classical limit of IBM, in contrast to the flat 5D space of the original Bohr Hamiltonian, which is made curved by the introduction of the deformation-dependent mass.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Octupole deformation in light actinides within an analytic quadrupole octupole axially symmetric model with Davidson potential

The analytic quadrupole octupole axially symmetric model, which had successfully predicted 226Ra and 226Th as lying at the border between the regions of octupole deformation and octupole vibrations in the light actinides using an infinite well potential (AQOA-IW), is made applicable to a wider region of nuclei exhibiting octupole deformation, through the use of a Davidson potential (AQOA-D). Analytic expressions for energy spectra and B(E1), B(E2), B(E3) transition rates are derived. The spectra of 222-226Ra and 224,226Th are described in terms of the two parameters phi_0 (expressing the relative amount of octupole vs. quadrupole deformation) and beta_0 (the position of the minimum of the Davidson potential), while the recently determined B(EL) transition rates of 224Ra, presenting stable octupole deformation, are successfully reproduced. A procedure for gradually determining the parameters appearing in the B(EL) transitions from a minimum set of data, thus increasing the predictive power of the model, is outlined.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Bohr Hamiltonian with deformation-dependent mass term for the Kratzer potential

The Deformation Dependent Mass (DDM) Kratzer model is constructed by considering the Kratzer potential in a Bohr Hamiltonian, in which the mass is allowed to depend on the nuclear deformation, and solving it by using techniques of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM), involving a deformed shape invariance condition. Analytical expressions for spectra and wave functions are derived for separable potentials in the cases of gamma-unstable nuclei, axially symmetric prolate deformed nuclei, and triaxial nuclei, implementing the usual approximations in each case. Spectra and B(E2) transition rates are compared to experimental data. The dependence of the mass on the deformation, dictated by SUSYQM for the potential used, moderates the increase of the moment of inertia with deformation, removing a main drawback of the model.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Effect of a fermion on quantum phase transitions in bosonic systems

The effect of a fermion with angular momentum j on quantum phase transitions of a (s,d) bosonic system is investigated. It is shown that the presence of a fermion strongly modifies the critical value at which the transition occurs, and its nature, even for small and moderate values of the coupling constant. The analogy with a bosonic system in an external field is mentioned. Experimental evidence for precursors of quantum phase transitions in bosonic systems plus a fermion (odd-even nuclei) is presented.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Quantum Phase Transitions in Odd-Mass Nuclei

Quantum shape-phase transitions in odd-even nuclei are investigated in the framework of the interacting boson-fermion model. Classical and quantum analysis show that the presence of the odd fermion strongly influences the location and nature of the phase transition, especially near the critical point. Experimental evidence for the occurrence of spherical to axially-deformed transitions in odd-proton nuclei Pm, Eu and Tb (Z=61, 63, 65) is presented.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Quantum phase transitions in Bose-Fermi systems

Quantum phase transitions in a system of N bosons with angular momentum L=0,2 (s,d) and a single fermion with angular momentum j are investigated both classically and quantum mechanically. It is shown that the presence of the odd fermion strongly influences the location and nature of the phase transition, especially the critical value of the control parameter at which the phase transition occurs. Experimental evidence for the U(5)-SU(3) (spherical to axially-deformed) transition in odd-even nuclei is presented.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2008

Exactly separable version of the Bohr Hamiltonian with the Davidson potential

An exactly separable version of the Bohr Hamiltonian is developed using a potential of the form u(beta)+u(gamma)/beta^2, with the Davidson potential u(beta)= beta^2 + beta_0^4/beta^2 (where beta_0 is the position of the minimum) and a stiff harmonic oscillator for u(gamma) centered at gamma=0. In the resulting solution, called exactly separable Davidson (ES-D), the ground state band, gamma band and 0_2^+ band are all treated on an equal footing. The bandheads, energy spacings within bands, and a number of interband and intraband B(E2) transition rates are well reproduced for almost all well-deformed rare earth and actinide nuclei using two parameters (beta_0, gamma stiffness). Insights regarding the recently found correlation between gamma stiffness and the gamma-bandhead energy, as well as the long standing problem of producing a level scheme with Interacting Boson Approximation SU(3) degeneracies from the Bohr Hamiltonian, are also obtained.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2007

Special Solutions of the Bohr Hamiltonian Related to Shape Phase Transitions in Nuclei

Nuclei exhibit quantum phase transitions (earlier called ground state phase transitions) between different shapes as the number of nucleons is modified, resulting in changes in the ground and low lying nuclear states. Special solutions of the Bohr Hamiltonian appropriate for the critical point of such shape phase transitions, as well as other special solutions applicable to relevant nuclear regions are described.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2006

Exactly separable version of X(5) and related models

One-parameter exactly separable versions of the X(5) and X(5)-beta^2 models, labelled as ES-X(5) and ES-X(5)-beta^2 respectively, are derived by using in the Bohr Hamiltonian potentials of the form u(beta)+u(gamma)/beta^2. Unlike X(5), in these models the beta_1 and gamma_1 bands are treated on equal footing. Spacings within the gamma_1 band are well reproduced by both models, while spacings within the beta_1 band are well reproduced only by ES-X(5)-beta^2, for which several nuclei with R_{4/2}=E(4_1^+)/E(2_1^+) ratios and [normalized to E(2_1^+)] beta_1 and gamma_1 bandheads corresponding to the model predictions have been found.

nucl-th↗