arXiv subjects

Doron Gazit

Publications and source records attributed to Doron Gazit.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The leading nuclear-structure electrostatic correction in arbitrary $\beta$ decays

We develop a systematic theoretical framework to improve theoretical predictions for nuclear $\beta$ decays of arbitrary angular momentum $J$, leading to a model-independent nuclear-structure electrostatic correction to the Coulomb interaction between the emitted lepton and the nuclear charge distribution, useful for ongoing and future precision searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. The formalism is based on nuclear matrix elements expanded in multipole operators, as commonly used in \emph{ab initio} calculations. First-order Coulomb corrections are derived from one-photon exchange preserving the full multipole and angular structure of the decay rate, and are subsequently expanded in the relevant small parameters of the nuclear problem, suppressing the leading nuclear structure correction to a few per-mills for medium mass nuclei with natural beta decay properties. We show that within this formalism, the leading Coulomb correction originates from three modifications of the original weak-only interaction: a modification of the nuclear charge form factor, which yields a correction similar to the known Fermi function, a shift of the momentum transfer within the lepton traces, and the same shift but inside the nuclear multipole operators. We additionally provide explicit results for allowed Gamow--Teller and unique first-forbidden transitions.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

On the sensitivity of nuclear clocks to new physics

The recent demonstration of laser excitation of the $\approx 8$ eV isomeric state of Thorium-229 is a significant step towards a nuclear clock. The low excitation energy likely results from a cancellation between electromagnetic and strong contributions, which new physics can disrupt. In this Letter, we quantify the enhancement of a nuclear clock's sensitivity to new physics using a geometric model and a novel $d$-wave halo model of the nucleus that reproduces measured differences between Thorium-229 states. We find likely enhancements of order $10^4$ while a worst case scenario with enhancement $\ll 1$ is unlikely.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Theoretical evaluation of solar proton-proton fusion reaction rate and its uncertainties

The weak proton-proton fusion into a deuteron ($^2$H) is the driving reaction in the energy production in the Sun, as well as similar main sequence stars. Its reaction rate in the solar interior is determined only theoretically. Here, we provide a new determination of the rate of this reaction in solar conditions $S^{11}(0)$, and analyze theoretical and experimental sources for uncertainties, using effective field theory of quantum chromo-dynamics without explicit pions at next-to-leading order. We find an enhancement of $S^{11}$ by $1-4\%$ over the previously recommended value. This change reduces the calculated fluxes of neutrinos originating in $^8$B and $^7$Be nuclear reactions in the Sun, thus favoring higher abundances for metallic photospheric elements, in the tension between different composition determination, known as the ``Solar Composition Problem''.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

First-principles modelling of the magnetic structure of the lightest nuclear systems using effective field theory without pions

The strong interaction, i.e., quantum chromodynamics at the low energy nuclear regime, is notoriously known to be challenging for predictive modeling. Here, we use the simplest possible nuclear effective field theory (EFT), and show that in the case of the magnetic structure of nuclear systems with $A=2$ and $A=3$ nucleons, it is highly precise as well as predictive. The theoretical framework is the pionless EFT (\pilesseft), of point nucleons with contact interactions, expanded consistently up to next-to-leading order (NLO) in perturbation theory, i.e., including only eleven low-energy parameters, and augmented by a novel Bayesian analysis of theoretical uncertainties. The theory accurately predicts the shell structure reflected in the values of the magnetic moments and reactions of these nuclei within $\approx 1\%$ calculated theoretical uncertainty. We show that this perfect prediction originates in implicit a-posteriori properties of the calculation, particularly an unexpectedly small expansion parameter, as well as a vanishing contribution from the two-body isoscalar current.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Nuclear ab initio calculations of 6He $β$-decay for beyond the Standard Model studies

Precision measurements of $β$-decay observables offer the possibility to search for deviations from the Standard Model. A possible discovery of such deviations requires accompanying first-principles calculations. Here we compute the nuclear structure corrections for the $β$-decay of $^6$He which is of central interest in several experimental efforts. We employ the impulse approximation together with wave functions calculated using the ab initio no-core shell model with potentials based on chiral effective field theory. We use these state-of-the-art calculations to give a novel and comprehensive analysis of theoretical uncertainties. We find that nuclear corrections, which we compute within the sensitivity of future experiments, create significant deviation from the naive Gamow-Teller predictions, making their accurate assessment essential in searches for physics beyond the Standard Model.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Multipole decomposition of tensor interactions of fermionic probes with composite particles and BSM signatures in nuclear reactions

A multipole decomposition of a cross-section is a useful tool to simplify the analysis of reactions due to their symmetry properties. By using a new approach to decompose antisymmetric tensor-type interactions within the multipole analysis, we introduce a general mathematical formalism for working with tensor couplings. This allows us to present a general tensor nuclear response, which is particularly useful for ongoing beta-decay experiments looking for physics beyond the Standard Model, as well as other exotic particle scatterings off nuclei, e.g., in dark matter direct detection experiments. Using this method, beyond the Standard Model operators identify with the known Standard Model operators, eliminating the need for calculations of additional matrix elements. We present in detail BSM expressions useful for beta-decay experiments and give an exemplary application for 6He beta-decay, although the formalism is easily generalizable for calculating other exotic scattering reactions.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2021

Constraining new physics with a novel measurement of the $^{23}$Ne $β$-decay branching ratio

Measurements of the beta-neutrino correlation coefficient (a$_{βν}$) in nuclear beta decay, together with the Fierz interference term (b$_F$), provide a robust test for the existence of exotic interactions beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics. The extraction of these quantities from the recoil ion spectra in $β$-decay requires accurate knowledge, decay branching ratios, and high-precision calculations of higher order nuclear effects. Here, we report on a new measurement of the $^{23}$Ne $β$-decay branching ratio, which allows a reanalysis of existing high-precision measurements. Together with new theoretical calculations of nuclear structure effects, augmented with robust theoretical uncertainty, this measurement improves on the current knowledge of a$_{βν}$ in $^{23}$Ne by an order of magnitude, and strongly constrains the Fierz term in beta decays, making this one of the first extractions to constrain both terms simultaneously. Together, these results place bounds on the existence of exotic tensor interactions and pave the way for new, even higher precision, experiments.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2021

A formalism to assess the accuracy of nuclear-structure weak interaction effects in precision $β$-decay studies

Multiple high precision $β$-decay measurements are being carried out these days on various nuclei, in search of beyond the Standard Model signatures. These measurements necessitate accurate standard model theoretical predictions to be compared with. Motivated by the experimental surge, we present a formalism for such a calculation of $β$-decay observables, with controlled accuracy, based on a perturbative analysis of the theoretical observables related to the phenomena, including high order nuclear recoil and shape corrections. The accuracy of the corrections is analyzed by identifying a hierarchy of small parameters, related to the low momentum transfer characterizing $β$-decays. Furthermore, we show that the sub-percent uncertainties, targeted by on-going and planned experiments, entail an accuracy of the order of 10\% for the solution of the nuclear many body problem, which is well within the reach of modern nuclear theory for light to medium mass nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2019

Tritium $β$-decay in pionless effective field theory

We calculate the $β$-decay of tritium at next-to-leading order in pionless effective field theory. At this order, a low-energy parameter $L_{1, A}$ enters the calculation that is also relevant for a high-accuracy prediction of the solar proton-proton fusion rate. We use the tritium half-life to determine this parameter and provide uncertainty estimates. We show proper renormalization of our calculation analyzing the residual cutoff dependence of observables. We find that next-to-leading order corrections contribute about $4\%$ to the triton decay Gamow-Teller strength. We show that these conclusions are insensitive to different arrangements of the effective range expansion.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2019

Weak interaction studies at SARAF

We review the current status of the radioisotopes program at the Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF), where we utilize an electrostatic-ion-beam trap and a magneto-optical trap for studying the nuclear $β$-decay from trapped radioactive atoms and ions. The differential energy spectra of $β$'s and recoil ions emerging from the decay is sensitive to beyond standard model interactions and is complementary to high energy searches. The completed facility SARAF-II will be one of the world's most powerful deuteron, proton and fast neutron sources, producing light radioactive isotopes in unprecedented amounts, needed for obtaining enough statistics for a high precision measurement.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Precision Beta Decay as a Probe of New Physics

The document presents a summary of discussions at recent workshops at the Amherst Center for Fundamental Interactions at Amherst, MA, and at the European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas at Trento, Italy, on the potential sensitivity of precision beta-decay experiments towards new physics.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Calculation of an $A=3$ bound-state matrix element in pionless effective field theory

In this paper, we establish a general framework for calculating pionless matrix elements between $A=3$ bound-states up to next-to-leading-order. This framework is useful for pionless calculations of electroweak observables, such as $^3$H,$^3$He magnetic moments and $^3$H $β$ decay. Starting from a Bethe-Salpeter equation, we prove that for a bound-state, the three-nucleon wave-function normalization can be expressed diagrammatically in a way that is equivalent to the unit operator between two identical three-nucleon bound-states. This diagrammatic form of the identity matrix element is the foundation for constructing an $A=3$ matrix element of a general operator. We show that this approach can be used to calculate the energy difference between $^3$H and $^3$He due to the Coulomb interaction, and to calculate the NLO corrections to the $^3$H and $^3$He scattering amplitudes due to effective range corrections.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2018

The effect of ionic correlations on radiative properties in the solar interior and terrestrial experiments

Intending to solve the decade old problem of solar opacity, we report substantial photoabsorption uncertainty due to the effect of ion-ion correlations. By performing detailed opacity calculations of the solar mixture, we find that taking into account the ionic structure changes the Rosseland opacity near the convection zone by about 10%. We also report about 15% difference in the Rosseland opacity for iron, which was recently measured at the Sandia Z facility, where the temperature reached that prevailing in the convection zone boundary while the density is 2.5 times lower. Finally, we propose a method to measure opacities at solar temperatures and densities that were never reached in the past via laboratory radiation flow experiments, by using plastic foams doped with permilles of dominant photon absorbers in the Sun. The method is advantageous for an experimental study of solar opacities that may lead to a resolution of the solar problem.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

Beta spectrum of unique first-forbidden decays as a novel test for fundamental symmetries

Within the Standard Model, the weak interaction of quarks and leptons is characterized by certain symmetry properties, such as maximal breaking of parity and favored helicity. These are related to the $V-A$ structure of the weak interaction. These characteristics were discovered by studying correlations in the directions of the outgoing leptons in nuclear beta decays. These days, correlation measurements in nuclear beta decays are intensively studied to probe for signatures for deviations from these symmetries, which are an indication of Beyond Standard Model physics. We show that the structure of the energy spectrum of emitted electrons in unique first-forbidden $β$-decays is sensitive to the symmetries of the weak interaction, and thus can be used as a novel probe of physics beyond the standard model. Furthermore, the energy spectrum gives constraints both in the case of right and left coupling of the new symmetry currents. We show that a measurement with modest energy resolution of about 20 keV is expected to lead to new constraints on beyond the standard model interactions with tensor symmetry.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

The Leading Correction to the Thomas-Fermi Model at Finite Temperature

The semi-classical approach leading to the Thomas-Fermi (TF) model provides a simple universal thermodynamic description of the electronic cloud surrounding the nucleus in an atom. This model is known to be exact at the limit of $Z\rightarrow\infty$, i.e., infinite nuclear charge, at finite density and temperature. Motivated by the zero-temperature case, we show in the current letter that the correction to TF due to quantum treatment of the strongly bound inner-most electrons, for which the semi-classical approximation breaks, scales as $Z^{-1/3}$, with respect to the TF solution. As such, it is more dominant than the quantum corrections to the kinetic energy, as well as exchange and correlation, which are known to be suppressed by $Z^{-2/3}$. We conjecture that this is the leading correction for this model. In addition, we present a different free energy functional for the TF model, and a successive functional that includes the strongly bound electrons correction. We use this corrected functional to derive a self-consistent potential and the electron density in the atom, and to calculate the corrected energy. At this stage, our model has a built-in validity limit, breaking as the L shell ionizes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Correlations in light nuclei and their relation to fine tuning and uncertainty quantifications of many body forces in low-energy nuclear physics

The large nucleon-nucleon scattering length, and the isospin approximate symmetry, are low energy properties of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). These entail correlations in the binding energies of light nuclei, e.g., the A=3 iso-multiplet, and Tjon's correlation between the binding energy of three and four body nuclei. Using a new representation of these, we establish that they translate into a correlation between different short-range contributions to three body forces in chiral effective field theory of low-energy nuclear physics. We demonstrate that these correlations should be taken into account in order to avoid fine-tuning in the calibration of three body forces. We relate this to the role of correlations in uncertainty quantification of non-renormalizable effective field theories of the nuclear regime. In addition, we show that correlations can be useful in assessing the importance of forces induced by renormalization group (RG) transformations. We give numerical evidence that such RG transformations can be represented effectively by adding a constant to the pure three nucleon contact low energy constant $c_E$.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Spectra and Scattering of Light Lattice Nuclei from Effective Field Theory

An effective field theory is used to describe light nuclei, calculated from quantum chromodynamics on a lattice at unphysically large pion masses. The theory is calibrated at leading order to two available data sets on two- and three-body nuclei for two pion masses. At those pion masses we predict the quartet and doublet neutron-deuteron scattering lengths, and the alpha-particle binding energy. For $m_π=510~$MeV we obtain, respectively, $^4a_{\rm nD}=2.3\pm 1.3~$fm, $^2a_{\rm nD}=2.2\pm 2.1~$fm, and $B_α^{}=35\pm 22~$MeV, while for $m_π=805~$MeV $^4a_{\rm nD}=1.6\pm 1.3~$fm, $^2a_{\rm nD}=0.62\pm 1.0~$fm, and $B_α^{}=94\pm 45~$MeV are found. Phillips- and Tjon-like correlations to the triton binding energy are established. Higher-order effects on the respective correlation bands are found insensitive to the pion mass. As a benchmark, we present results for the physical pion mass, using experimental two-body scattering lengths and the triton binding energy as input. Hints of subtle changes in the structure of the triton and alpha particle are discussed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Low-energy Electro-weak Reactions

Chiral effective field theory (EFT) provides a systematic and controlled approach to low-energy nuclear physics. Here, we use chiral EFT to calculate low-energy weak Gamow-Teller transitions. We put special emphasis on the role of two-body (2b) weak currents within the nucleus, and discuss their applications in predicting physical observables.

nucl-th↗