arXiv subjects

E. Khan

Publications and source records attributed to E. Khan.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Localisation and dimensionless studies in nuclei and many-body systems

Dimensionless ratios characterizing many-body systems are a powerful tool to reveal the main universal quantities involved. The recently-introduced localisation parameter allow to study the occurrence of crystal, clusterisation, and quantum liquid states in many-body systems such as nuclei. Its concomitant use with other dimensionless quantities such as the quantality, allows to pinpoint fundamental lengthscales and dimensionless ratios at work in nuclei. Within the present approach, the impact of delocalisation on nuclear saturation is discussed. The transition from a homogeneous to a clusterised state in low density systems is studied. The spin-orbit effect in nuclei and fermionic systems is also reviewed in the light of this analysis. A generalised localisation parameter is derived, showing that the delocalisation properties are not always driven by the quantality. The concepts of quantum fluidity and mobility are finally introduced.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Lorentz-symmetry test at Planck-scale suppression with nucleons in a spin-polarized $^{133}$Cs cold atom clock

We introduce an improved model that links the frequency shift of the $^{133}\text{Cs}$ hyperfine Zeeman transitions $\vert F = 3, m_F> \longleftrightarrow \vert F = 4, m_F >$ to the Lorentz-violating Standard-Model Extension (SME) coefficients of the proton and neutron. The new model uses Lorentz transformations developed to second order in boost and additionally takes the nuclear structure into account, beyond the simple Schmidt model used previously in SME analyses, thereby providing access to both proton and neutron SME coefficients including the isotropic coefficient $\tilde{c}_{TT}$. Using this new model in a second analysis of the data delivered by the FO2 dual Cs/Rb fountain at Paris Observatory and previously analysed in arXiv:hep-ph/0601024v1, we improve by up to 12 orders of magnitude the present maximum sensitivities (see arXiv:0801.0287v9) on the $\tilde{c}_{Q}$, $\tilde{c}_{TJ}$ and $\tilde{c}_{TT}$ coefficients for the neutron and on the $\tilde{c}_{TT}$ coefficient for the proton, reaching respectively $10^{-20}$, $10^{-17}$, $10^{-13}$ and $10^{-15}$ GeV.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Spin-orbit interaction in relativistic nuclear structure models

Relativistic self-consistent mean-field (SCMF) models naturally account for the coupling of the nucleon spin to its orbital motion, whereas non-relativistic SCMF methods necessitate a phenomenological ansatz for the effective spin-orbit potential. Recent experimental studies aim to explore the isospin properties of the effective spin-orbit interaction in nuclei. SCMF models are very useful in the interpretation of the corresponding data, however standard relativistic mean-field and non-relativistic Hartree-Fock models use effective spin-orbit potentials with different isovector properties, mainly because exchange contributions are not treated explicitly in the former. The impact of exchange terms on the effective spin-orbit potential in relativistic mean-field models is analysed, and it is shown that it leads to an isovector structure similar to the one used in standard non-relativistic Hartree-Fock. Data on the isospin dependence of spin-orbit splittings in spherical nuclei could be used to constrain the isovector-scalar channel of relativistic mean-field models. The reproduction of the empirical kink in the isotope shifts of even Pb nuclei by relativistic effective interactions points to the occurrence of pseudospin symmetry in the single-neutron spectra in these nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Spectroscopy of $^{35}$P using the one-proton knockout reaction

The structure of $^{35}$P was studied with a one-proton knockout reaction at88~MeV/u from a $^{36}$S projectile beam at NSCL. The $γ$ rays from thedepopulation of excited states in $^{35}$P were detected with GRETINA, whilethe $^{35}$P nuclei were identified event-by-event in the focal plane of theS800 spectrograph. The level scheme of $^{35}$P was deduced up to 7.5 MeV using$γ-γ$ coincidences. The observed levels were attributed to protonremovals from the $sd$-shell and also from the deeply-bound $p\_{1/2}$ orbital.The orbital angular momentum of each state was derived from the comparisonbetween experimental and calculated shapes of individual ($γ$-gated)parallel momentum distributions. Despite the use of different reactions andtheir associate models, spectroscopic factors, $C^2S$, derived from the$^{36}$S $(-1p)$ knockout reaction agree with those obtained earlier from$^{36}$S($d$,\nuc{3}{He}) transfer, if a reduction factor $R\_s$, as deducedfrom inclusive one-nucleon removal cross sections, is applied to the knockout transitions.In addition to the expected proton-hole configurations, other states were observedwith individual cross sections of the order of 0.5~mb. Based on their shiftedparallel momentum distributions, their decay modes to negative parity states,their high excitation energy (around 4.7~MeV) and the fact that they were notobserved in the ($d$,\nuc{3}{He}) reaction, we propose that they may resultfrom a two-step mechanism or a nucleon-exchange reaction with subsequent neutronevaporation. Regardless of the mechanism, that could not yet be clarified, thesestates likely correspond to neutron core excitations in \nuc{35}{P}. Thisnewly-identified pathway, although weak, offers the possibility to selectivelypopulate certain intruder configurations that are otherwise hard to produceand identify.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2015

Spin-orbit coupling rule in bound fermions systems

Spin-orbit coupling characterizes quantum systems such as atoms, nuclei, hypernuclei, quarkonia, etc., and is essential for understanding their spectroscopic properties. Depending on the system, the effect of spin-orbit coupling on shell structure is large in nuclei, small in quarkonia, perturbative in atoms. In the standard non-relativistic reduction of the single-particle Dirac equation, we derive a universal rule for the relative magnitude of the spin-orbit effect that applies to very different quantum systems, regardless of whether the spin-orbit coupling originates from the strong or electromagnetic interaction. It is shown that in nuclei the near equality of the mass of the nucleon and the difference between the large repulsive and attractive potentials explains the fact that spin-orbit splittings are comparable to the energy spacing between major shells. For a specific ratio between the particle mass and the effective potential whose gradient determines the spin-orbit force, we predict the occurrence of giant spin-orbit energy splittings that dominate the single-particle excitation spectrum.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Microscopic evaluation of the hypernuclear chart with $Λ$-hyperons

A large number of hypernuclei, where a considerable fraction of nucleons is replaced by strange baryons, and even pure hyperonic species are expected to be bound. Though, the hypernuclear landscape remains largely unknown because of scarce constraints on the $NY$ and $YY$ interactions. We want to estimate the number of potentially bound hypernuclei. In order to evaluate realistic error bars within the theoretical uncertainties associated to the spherical mean-field approach, and the present information from already synthetized hypernuclei on the $N-Y$ and $Y-Y$ channels, we limit ourselves to purely $Λ$-hypernuclei, to magic numbers of $Λ$'s (for Z $\leq$ 120 and $Λ\leq$70), and to even-even-even systems. We consider a density functional approach adjusted to microscopic Bruckner-Hartree-Fock calculations, where the $ΛΛ$ term is corrected in a phenomenological way, to reproduce present experimental constraints. The number of bound even-even-even $Λ$-hypernuclei is estimated to 491680 $\pm$ 34400. This relatively low uncertainty is due to the fact that the well constrained low density and highly unconstrained high density behavior of the energy functional turn out to be largely decoupled. Results in $Λ$-hypernuclei appear to be almost independent of the choice for the high-density part of the $ΛΛ$ interaction. The location of the $Λ$-hyperdriplines is also evaluated. Significant deviations from Iron-Nickel elements can be found for $Λ$-hypernuclei with the largest binding energy per baryon. Proton, neutron and $Λ$-hyperon magicity evolution and triple magic $Λ$-hypernuclei are studied. Possible bubbles and haloes effect in $Λ$-hypernuclei are also discussed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Constraining the nuclear equation of state at subsaturation densities

Only one third of the nucleons in $^{208}$Pb occupy the saturation density area. Consequently nuclear observables related to average properties of nuclei, such as masses or radii, constrain the equation of state (EOS) not at saturation density but rather around the so-called crossing density, localised close to the mean value of the density of nuclei: $ρ\simeq$0.11 fm$^{-3}$. This provides an explanation for the empirical fact that several EOS quantities calculated with various functionals cross at a density significantly lower than the saturation one. The third derivative M of the energy at the crossing density is constrained by the giant monopole resonance (GMR) measurements in an isotopic chain rather than the incompressibility at saturation density. The GMR measurements provide M=1110 $\pm$ 70 MeV (6% uncertainty), whose extrapolation gives K$_\infty$=230 $\pm$ 40 MeV (17% uncertainty).

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Spectroscopy of $^{28}$Na: shell evolution toward the drip line

Excited states in $^{28}$Na have been studied using the $β$-decay of implanted $^{28}$Ne ions at GANIL/LISE as well as the in-beam $γ$-ray spectroscopy at the NSCL/S800 facility. New states of positive (J$^π$=3,4$^+$) and negative (J$^π$=1-5$^-$) parity are proposed. The former arise from the coupling between 0d$\_{5/2}$ protons and a 0d$\_{3/2}$ neutron, while the latter are due to couplings with 1p$\_{3/2}$ or 0f$\_{7/2}$ neutrons. While the relative energies between the J$^π$=1-4$^+$ states are well reproduced with the USDA interaction in the N=17 isotones, a progressive shift in the ground state binding energy (by about 500 keV) is observed between $^{26}$F and $^{30}$Al. This points to a possible change in the proton-neutron 0d$\_{5/2}$-0d$\_{3/2}$ effective interaction when moving from stability to the drip line. The presence of J$^π$=1-4$^-$ negative parity states around 1.5 MeV as well as of a candidate for a J$^π$=5$^-$ state around 2.5 MeV give further support to the collapse of the N=20 gap and to the inversion between the 0f$\_{7/2}$ and 1p$\_{3/2}$ levels below Z=12. These features are discussed in the framework of Shell Model and EDF calculations, leading to predicted negative parity states in the low energy spectra of the $^{26}$F and $^{25}$O nuclei.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2014

Effect of temperature on the effective mass and the neutron skin of nuclei

We study the finite temperature Hartree-Fock-BCS approximation for selected stable Sn nuclei with zero-range Skyrme forces. Hartree Fock BCS approximation allows for a straightforward interpretation of the results since it involves u and v's which are not matrices as in HFB. Pairing transitions from superfluid to the normal state are studied with respect to the temperature. The temperature dependence of the nuclear radii and neutron skin are also analyzed. An increase of proton and neutron radii is obtained in neutron rich nuclei especially above the critical temperature. Using different Skyrme energy functionals, it is found that the correlation between the effective mass in symmetric nuclear matter and the critical temperature depends on the pairing prescription. The temperature dependence of the nucleon effective mass is also investigated, showing that proton and neutron effective masses display different behavior below and above the critical temperature, due to the small temperature dependence of the density.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Density Functional Theory studies of cluster states in nuclei

The framework of nuclear energy density functionals is applied to a study of the formation and evolution of cluster states in nuclei. The relativistic functional DD-ME2 is used in triaxial and reflection-asymmetric relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov calculations of relatively light $N = Z$ and neutron-rich nuclei. The role of deformation and degeneracy of single-nucleon states in the formation of clusters is analysed, and interesting cluster structures are predicted in excited configurations of Be, C, O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ar and Ca $N = Z$ nuclei. Cluster phenomena in neutron-rich nuclei are discussed, and it is shown that in neutron-rich Be and C nuclei cluster states occur as a result of molecular bonding of $α$-particles by the excess neutrons, and also that proton covalent bonding can occur in $^{10}$C.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Effects of the tensor force on the ground and first $2^{+}$ states of the magic $^{54}$Ca nucleus

The magic nature of the $^{54}$Ca nucleus is investigated in the light of the recent experimental results. We employ both HFB and HF+BCS methods using Skyrme-type SLy5, SLy5+T and T44 interactions. The evolution of the single-particle spectra is studied for the N=34 isotones: $^{60}$Fe, $^{58}$Cr, $^{56}$Ti and $^{54}$Ca. An increase is obtained in the neutron spin-orbit splittings of $p$ and $f$ states due to the effect of the tensor force which also makes $^{54}$Ca a magic nucleus candidate. QRPA calculations on top of HF+BCS are performed to investigate the first $J^π$=$2^{+}$ states of the calcium isotopic chain. A good agreement for excitation energies is obtained when we include the tensor force in the mean-field part of the calculations. The first $2^{+}$ states indicate a subshell closure for both $^{52}$Ca and $^{54}$Ca nuclei. We confirm that the tensor part of the interaction is quite essential in explaining the neutron subshell closure in $^{52}$Ca and $^{54}$Ca nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Incompressibility of finite fermionic systems: stable and exotic atomic nuclei

The incompressibility of finite fermionic systems is investigated using analytical approaches and microscopic models. The incompressibility of a system is directly linked to the zero-point kinetic energy of constituent fermions, and this is a universal feature of fermionic systems. In the case of atomic nuclei, this implies a constant value of the incompressibility in medium-heavy and heavy nuclei. The evolution of nuclear incompressibility along Sn and Pb isotopic chains is analyzed using global microscopic models, based on both non-relativistic and relativistic energy functionals. The result is an almost constant incompressibility in stable nuclei and systems not far from stability, and a steep decrease in nuclei with pronounced neutron excess, caused by the emergence of a soft monopole mode in neutron-rich nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Towards a better knowledge of the nuclear equation of state from the isoscalar breathing mode

The measurements of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (GMR), also called the breathing mode, are analyzed with respect to their constraints on the quantity $M_c$, e.g. the density dependence of the nuclear incompressibility around the so-called crossing density $ρ_c$=0.1 fm$^{-3}$. The correlation between the centroid of the GMR, $E_\mathrm{GMR}$, and $M_c$ is shown to be more accurate than the one between $E_\mathrm{GMR}$ and the incompressibility modulus at saturation density, $K_\infty$, giving rise to an improved determination on the nuclear equation of state. The relationship between $M_c$ and $K_\infty$ is given as a function of the skewness parameter $Q_\infty$ associated to the density dependence of the equation of state. The large variation of $Q_\infty$ among different energy density functionnals directly impacts the knowledge of $K_\infty$: a better knowledge of $Q_\infty$ is required to deduce more accurately $K_\infty$. Using the Local Density Approximation, a simple and accurate expression relating $E_\mathrm{GMR}$ and the quantity $M_c$ is derived and successfully compared to the fully microscopic predictions.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Localization and clustering in the nuclear Fermi liquid

Using the framework of nuclear energy density functionals we examine the conditions for single-nucleon localization and formation of cluster structures in finite nuclei. We propose to characterize localization by the ratio of the dispersion of single-nucleon wave functions to the average inter-nucleon distance. This parameter generally increases with mass and describes the gradual transition from a hybrid phase in light nuclei, characterized by the spatial localization of individual nucleon states that leads to the formation of cluster structures, toward the Fermi liquid phase in heavier nuclei. Values of the localization parameter that correspond to a crystal phase cannot occur in finite nuclei. Typical length and energy scales in nuclei allow the formation of liquid drops, clusters, and halo structures.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Suppression, persistence and reentrance of superfluidity in overflowing nuclear systems

Based on a microscopic description of superfluidity in overflowing nuclear systems, it is shown that continuum coupling plays an important role in the suppression, the persistence and the reentrance of pairing. In such systems, the structure of the drip-line nucleus determines the suppression and the persistence of superfluidity. The reentrance of pairing with increasing temperature leads to additional critical temperatures between the normal and superfluid phases.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

How atomic nuclei cluster

Nucleonic matter displays a quantum liquid structure, but in some cases finite nuclei behave like molecules composed of clusters of protons and neutrons. Clustering is a recurrent feature in light nuclei, from beryllium to nickel. For instance, in $^{12}$C the Hoyle state, crucial for stellar nucleosynthesis, can be described as a nuclear molecule consisting of three alpha-particles. The mechanism of cluster formation, however, has not yet been fully understood. We show that the origin of clustering can be traced back to the depth of the confining nuclear potential. By employing the theoretical framework of energy density functionals that encompasses both cluster and quantum liquid-drop aspects of nuclei, it is shown that the depth of the potential determines the energy spacings between single-nucleon orbitals, the localization of the corresponding wave functions and, therefore, the degree of nucleonic density clustering. Relativistic functionals, in particular, are characterized by deep single-nucleon potentials. When compared to non-relativistic functionals that yield similar ground-state properties (binding energy, deformation, radii), they predict the occurrence of much more pronounced cluster structures. More generally, clustering is considered as a transitional phenomenon between crystalline and quantum liquid phases of fermionic systems.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Low-energy monopole strength in exotic Nickel isotopes

Low-energy strength is predicted for the isoscalar monopole response of neutron-rich Ni isotopes, in calculations performed using the microscopic Skyrme HF+RPA and relativistic RHB+RQRPA models. Both models, although based on different energy density functionals, predict the occurrence of pronounced monopole states in the energy region between 10 MeV and 15 MeV, well separated from the isoscalar GMR. The analysis of transition densities and corresponding particle-hole configurations shows that these states represent almost pure neutron single hole-particle excitations. Even though their location is not modified with respect to the corresponding unperturbed states, their (Q)RPA strength is considerably enhanced by the residual interaction. The theoretical analysis predicts the gradual enhancement of low-energy monopole strength with neutron excess.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Relativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov model for deformed nuclei

The Relativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov model for axially deformed nuclei (RHFBz) is introduced. The model is based on an effective Lagrangian with density-dependent meson-nucleon couplings in the particle-hole channel, and the pairing part of the Gogny force is used in the pairing channel. The RHFBz quasiparticle equations are solved by expansion in the basis of a deformed harmonic oscillator. Illustrative RHFBz calculations are performed for Carbon, Neon and Magnesium isotopes. The effect of the explicitly including the pion field is investigated for binding energies, deformation parameters, and charge radii.

nucl-th↗