arXiv subjects

E. F. Zhou

Publications and source records attributed to E. F. Zhou.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Microscopic study of low-lying states in odd-mass nuclei for atomic electric dipole moment searches

We present a microscopic study of the low-lying states of five odd-mass nuclei of particular interest for experimental searches of atomic electric dipole moments (EDMs): $^{129}$Xe, $^{199}$Hg, $^{225}$Ra, $^{229}$Th, and $^{229}$Pa. The analysis is performed within the recently developed multi-reference covariant density functional theory (MR-CDFT), which incorporates symmetry restoration and configuration mixing based on self-consistent mean-field solutions. The calculated energy spectra and electromagnetic observables of these nuclei are reasonably well reproduced without introducing any parameters beyond those of the underlying universal relativistic energy density functional. The results demonstrate the reliability of MR-CDFT in describing the structure of these nuclei and in providing essential input on nuclear Schiff moments relevant to ongoing EDM searches.

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arXiv2026

Impact of shape fluctuations on nuclear Schiff moments in heavy octupole-deformed nuclei

Permanent electric dipole moments (EDMs) are among the most sensitive probes of CP violation beyond the Standard Model. In diamagnetic atoms, the EDM is determined primarily by the nuclear Schiff moment, whose uncertainty limits the interpretation of current and future EDM searches. For the experimentally most promising octupole-deformed nuclei, however, existing Schiff-moment calculations have largely relied on the rigid-shape approximation. Here we report the first fully microscopic beyond-mean-field study of Schiff moments in the heavy octupole-deformed nuclei $^{225}$Ra, $^{229}$Th, and $^{229}$Pa, based on multireference covariant density functional theory (MR-CDFT) with symmetry restoration and quadrupole--octupole shape mixing. The results show that collective shape fluctuations reduce the Schiff moments by factors of two to four. Furthermore, the Schiff moments of $^{229}$Th and $^{229}$Pa are predicted to exceed that of $^{225}$Ra by more than an order of magnitude, largely due to the near-degenerate parity doublets predicted by MR-CDFT. This work establishes a microscopic framework for calculating Schiff moments in heavy octupole-deformed nuclei, providing essential nuclear-structure input for ongoing and future EDM searches.

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arXiv2026

Ab initio mapping of the boundary of the $N=20$ island of inversion

Starting from a chiral two- plus three-nucleon interaction, we perform a systematic study of the low-lying states of neutron-rich nuclei around $N=20$ using the in-medium generator coordinate method (IM-GCM), which combines the multi-reference in-medium similarity renormalization group (MR-IMSRG) with the quantum-number projected generator coordinate method (PGCM) defined in a full single-particle space. The main features of the energy spectra and electromagnetic properties of low-lying states in both even-even and odd-mass nuclei of this mass region are reasonably reproduced. The boundary of the $N=20$ island of inversion (IOI) is investigated, and the results indicate that $^{30}$Ne, $^{29,31,33}$Na, $^{31-34}$Mg, and $^{35}$Al lie within the IOI, whereas $^{29}$F, $^{29}$Ne, $^{30}$Mg, $^{31, 33}$Al, $^{34,35}$Si, and $^{35}$P fall outside it.

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arXiv2025

Multireference covariant density functional theory for shape coexistence and isomerism in $^{43}$S

We extend the multireference covariant density functional theory (MR-CDFT) to describe the low-lying states of the odd-mass nucleus $^{43}$S near the neutron magic number $N=28$ with shape coexistence. The wave functions of the low-lying states are constructed as superpositions of configurations with different intrinsic shapes and $K$ quantum numbers, projected onto good particle numbers and angular momenta. The MR-CDFT successfully reproduces the main features of the low-energy structure in $^{43}$S. Our results indicate that the ground state, $3/2^-_1$, is predominantly composed of the intruder prolate one-quasiparticle (1qp) configuration $\nu1/2^-[321]$. In contrast, the $7/2^-_1$ state is identified as a high-$K$ isomer, primarily built on the prolate 1qp configuration $\nu7/2^-[303]$. Additionally, the $3/2^-_2$ state is found to be an admixture dominated by an oblate configuration with $K^π= 1/2^-$, along with a small contribution from a prolate configuration with $K^π= 3/2^-$. These results demonstrate the capability of MR-CDFT to capture the intricate interplay among shape coexistence, $K$-mixing, and isomerism in the low-energy structure of odd-mass nuclei around $N = 28$.

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arXiv2025

Ab initio nuclear shape coexistence and emergence of island of inversion around $N=20$

We extend a nuclear ab initio framework based on chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions to investigate shape coexistence and the degradation of the $N=20$ magic number in both even-even and odd-even magnesium isotopes. The quantum-number projected generator coordinate method, combined with the in-medium similarity renormalization group (IMSRG), is employed to compute their low-lying states. This approach reasonably reproduces the coexistence of weakly and strongly deformed states at comparable energies, and allows us to track the emergence of the $N=20$ island of inversion through the continuous IMSRG evolution of the chiral Hamiltonian. Our results indicate that the ground state of $^{33}$Mg with spin-parity $3/2^-$ is predominantly a strongly deformed configuration with $K^π= 3/2^-$, while the lowest $7/2^-$ state is predicted to be a shape isomer, consisting of a mixture of weakly deformed configurations with different $K$ values. The results highlight the essential roles of both dynamical and static collective correlations in reproducing the ordering of nuclear states with distinct shapes.

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arXiv2024

Quantum-number projected generator coordinate method for $^{21}$Ne with a chiral two-nucleon-plus-three-nucleon interaction

We report a study of the low-lying states of deformed $^{21}$Ne within the framework of quantum-number projected generator coordinate method (PGCM), starting from a chiral two-nucleon-plus-three-nucleon (NN+3N) interaction. The wave functions of states are constructed as a linear combination of a set of axially-deformed Hartree-Fock-Bogliubov (HFB) wave functions with different quadrupole deformations. These HFB wave functions are projected onto different angular momenta and the correct neutron and proton numbers for $^{21}$Ne. The results of calculations based on the effective Hamiltonians derived by normal-ordering the 3N interaction with respect to three different reference states, including the quantum-number projected HFB wave functions for $^{20}$Ne, $^{22}$Ne, and an ensemble of them with equal weights, are compared. This study serves as a key step towards ab initio calculations of odd-mass deformed nuclei with the in-medium GCM.

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arXiv2024

Benchmarking rotational correction energies in odd-mass nuclei

Nuclear energy density functional theory (DFT) provides a microscopic approach to describing nuclear masses. By incorporating pairing correlations and deformation within DFT, nuclear masses can be predicted with sub-MeV accuracy. A crucial factor in achieving this precision is the dynamical correlation energy associated with restoring rotational symmetry, known as rotational correction energy (RCE). This correction is typically estimated using the cranking approximation in perturbation theory. In this work, we benchmark the results of these calculations against exact angular-momentum projection (AMP) for both even-even and odd-mass nuclei from light to heavy mass region, utilizing a covariant DFT framework. We find that the RCE, computed using the full moment of inertia (MoI) in the cranking approximation, closely matches the results from exact AMP for both even-even and odd-mass nuclei, with the exception of near-spherical even-even nuclei. For certain configurations in odd-mass nuclei, however, the RCEs can become abnormally small, a phenomenon linked to the divergence of the MoI. To address this, a regulator is introduced for the MoI of an odd-mass nucleus, the validity of which is examined through exact AMP calculations.

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arXiv2024

Multireference covariant density-functional theory for the low-lying states of odd-mass nuclei

We extend multireference covariant density-functional theory (MR-CDFT) based on a relativistic point-coupling energy functional to describe the low-lying states of odd-mass nuclei. The nuclear wave function is constructed as a superposition of quadrupole-octupole deformed mean-field configurations, with projection onto angular momentum, particle numbers, and parity within the framework of the generator coordinate method. Using $^{25}$Mg as an example, we calculate the energy spectrum, electric multipole, and magnetic dipole transition strengths based on three different schemes for the mean-field configurations of odd-mass nuclei. We find that the low-energy structure of $^{25}$Mg is reasonably reproduced in all three schemes. In particular, the effect of octupole correlation is illustrated in the application to the low-lying parity doublets of $^{21}$Ne. This work demonstrates the success of the MR-CDFT for the low-lying states of odd-mass nuclei with possible strong quadruple-octupole correlations.

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arXiv2023

Generator coordinate method for nuclear octupole excitations: status and perspectives

Strong octupole correlations have been observed in the low-lying states of atomic nuclei across various mass regions. In this review, we provide an overview of Beyond Mean-Field (BMF) studies of nuclear octupole collective motions with Generator Coordinate Method (GCM) in combination with quantum-number projections that are implemented to restore the broken symmetries in nuclear mean-field states. We highlight recent developments within this framework and their applications to excitation spectra and electromagnetic transition rates in octupole-shaped nuclei and hypernuclei. We discuss the novel phenomena of nucleon clustering in light nuclei. Additionally, we explore the phase transition from octupole vibrations to rotational motions as spin increases in heavy nuclei. Lastly, we examine the status and future prospects of studies on octupole deformation effects in nuclear Schiff moments. These studies, along with the upper limits of atomic Electric Dipole Moment (EDM), impose stringent constraints on beyond-standard-model time-reversal-violating nucleon-nucleon interactions.

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arXiv2015

Anatomy of molecular structures in $^{20}$Ne

We present a beyond mean-field study of clusters and molecular structures in low-spin states of $^{20}$Ne with a multireference relativistic energy density functional, where the dynamical correlation effects of symmetry restoration and quadrupole-octupole shapes fluctuation are taken into account with projections on parity, particle number and angular momentum in the framework of the generator coordinate method. Both the energy spectrum and the electric multipole transition strengths for low-lying parity-doublet bands are better reproduced after taking into account the dynamical octupole vibration effect. Consistent with the finding in previous studies, a rotation-induced dissolution of the $α+^{16}$O molecular structure in $^{20}$Ne is predicted.

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arXiv2015

Beyond relativistic mean-field approach for nuclear octupole excitations

We report the first beyond-mean-field study of low-lying parity-doublet states in 224Ra by extending the multireference relativistic energy density functional method to include dynamical correlations related to symmetry restoration and quadrupole-octupole shape fluctuation with a generator coordinate method combined with parity, particle-number, and angular-momentum projections. We clarify full microscopically that the origin of spin-dependent parity splitting in low-spin states is related to the octupole shape stabilization of positive-parity states, the dominated shapes of which drift gradually to that of negative-parity ones.

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