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F. R. Xu

Publications and source records attributed to F. R. Xu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Shape coexistence and evolution in neutron-deficient krypton isotopes

Total Routhian Surface (TRS) calculations have been performed to investigate shape coexistence and evolution in neutron-deficient krypton isotopes ${}^{72,74,76}$Kr. The ground-state shape is found to change from oblate in ${}^{72}$Kr to prolate in ${}^{74,76}$Kr, in agreement with experimental data. Quadrupole deformations of the ground states and coexisting $0^{+}_{2}$ states as well as excitation energies of the latter are also well reproduced. While the general agreement between calculated moments of inertia and those deduced from observed spectra confirms the prolate nature of the low-lying yrast states of all three isotopes (except the ground state of ${}^{72}$Kr), the deviation at low spins suggests significant shape mixing. The role of triaxiality in describing shape coexistence and evolution in these nuclei is finally discussed.

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Odd-even mass staggering with Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory

We have studied odd-even nuclear mass staggering with the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory by employing isoscalar and isovector contact pairing interactions. By reproducing the empirical odd-even mass differences of the Sn isotopic chain, the strengths of pairing interactions are determined. The optimal strengths adjusted in this work can give better description of odd-even mass differences than that fitted by reproducing the experimental neutron pairing gap of $^{120}$Sn.

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Emergent Soft Monopole Modes in Weakly-Bound Deformed Nuclei

Based on the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov solutions in large deformed coordinate spaces, the finite amplitude method for quasiparticle random phase approximation (FAM-QRPA) has been implemented, providing a suitable approach to probe collective excitations of weakly-bound nuclei embedded in the continuum. The monopole excitation modes in Magnesium isotopes up to the neutron drip line have been studied with the FAM-QRPA framework on both the coordinate-space and harmonic oscillator basis methods. Enhanced soft monopole strengths and collectivity as a result of weak-binding effects have been unambiguously demonstrated.

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Shape coexistence and triaxiality in nuclei near 80Zr

Total-Routhian-Surface calculations have been performed to investigate the shape evolutions of $A\sim80$ nuclei, $^{80-84}$Zr, $^{76-80}$Sr and $^{84,86}$Mo. Shape coexistences of spherical, prolate and oblate deformations have been found in these nuclei. Particularly for the nuclei, $^{80}$Sr and $^{82}$Zr, the energy differences between two shape-coexisting states are less than 220 keV. At high spins, the $g_{9/2}$ shell plays an important role for shape evolutions. It has been found that the alignment of the $g_{9/2}$ quasi-particles drives nuclei to be triaxial.

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Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov descriptions of deformed weakly-bound nuclei in large coordinate spaces

Weakly-bound deformed nuclei have been studied by the Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approach in large coordinate-space boxes. In particular, the box-size dependence of the HFB calculations of weakly-bound deformed nuclei are investigated, including the particle density and pairing density distributions at nuclear surfaces, the near-threshold resonant and continuum quasiparticle spectra, and energetic properties. The box size may have larger influences in pairing properties than in other bulk properties. We demonstrate that large-box calculations of weakly-bound nuclei are important to precisely describe exotic phenomena such as deformed halos and peninsulas of stability beyond drip lines.

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Evolution of Surface Deformations of Weakly-Bound Nuclei in the Continuum

We study weakly-bound deformed nuclei based on the coordinate-space Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach, in which a large box is employed for treating the continuum and surface diffuseness. Approaching the limit of core-halo deformation decoupling, calculations found an exotic "egg"-like structure consisting of a spherical core plus a prolate halo in $^{38}$Ne, in which the resonant continuum plays an essential role. Generally the halo probability and the decoupling effect in heavy nuclei are reduced compared to light nuclei, due to denser level densities around Fermi surfaces. However, deformed halos in medium-mass nuclei are possible with sparse levels of negative parity, for example, in $^{110}$Ge. The surface deformations of pairing density distributions are also influenced by the decoupling effect and are sensitive to the effective pairing Hamiltonian.

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Role of T=0 pairing in Gamow-Teller states in N=Z nuclei

Gamow-Teller (GT) states in N=Z nuclei with the mass number A from 48 to 64 are studied by using Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov + quasi-particle random phase approximation (HFB+QRPA) with Skyrme interactions. The isoscalar spin-triplet (T=0,S=1) pairing interaction is taken into account in QRPA calculations. It is found in the context of SU(4) symmetry in the spin-isospin space that the GT strength of lower energy excitations is largely enhanced by the T=0 pairing interaction which works cooperatively with the T=1 pairing interaction in the ground state. A two-peaked structure observed recently in $(p,n)$ reaction on $^{56}$Ni can be considered as a manifestation of the role of T=0 pairing in the GT collective states.

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Understanding the different rotational behaviors of $^{252}$No and $^{254}$No

Total Routhian surface calculations have been performed to investigate rapidly rotating transfermium nuclei, the heaviest nuclei accessible by detailed spectroscopy experiments. The observed fast alignment in $^{252}$No and slow alignment in $^{254}$No are well reproduced by the calculations incorporating high-order deformations. The different rotational behaviors of $^{252}$No and $^{254}$No can be understood for the first time in terms of $β_6$ deformation that decreases the energies of the $νj_{15/2}$ intruder orbitals below the N=152 gap. Our investigations reveal the importance of high-order deformation in describing not only the multi-quasiparticle states but also the rotational spectra, both providing probes of the single-particle structure concerning the expected doubly-magic superheavy nuclei.

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Observation of Positive-Parity Bands in $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd: Enhanced $γ$-Softness

The neutron-rich nuclei $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd were produced as fission fragments following the $^{30}$Si + $^{168}$Er reaction at 142 MeV. Using the identification based on the coincidences with the complementary fission fragments, the only positive-parity bands observed so far in $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd emerged from this work. A band, built on top of the 5/2$^+$ ground state exhibiting $ΔI$ = 1 energy-level staggering, was observed in each of these nuclei. Both nuclei of interest, $^{109}$Pd and $^{111}$Pd, are suggested to lie in the transitional region of Pd isotopes of maximum $γ$-softness. The ground states of both nuclei are predicted by TRS calculations to be extremely $γ$-soft with shallow triaxial minima. The first crossing in the new bands is proposed to be due to an alignment of $h^2_{11/2}$ neutrons.

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Self-consistent tilted-axis-cranking study of triaxial strongly deformed bands in $^{158}$Er at ultrahigh spin

Stimulated by recent experimental discoveries, triaxial strongly deformed (TSD) states in $^{158}$Er at ultrahigh spins have been studied by means of the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock model and the tilted-axis-cranking method. Restricting the rotational axis to one of the principal axes -- as done in previous cranking calculations -- two well-defined TSD minima in the total Routhian surface are found for a given configuration: one with positive and another with negative triaxial deformation $γ$. By allowing the rotational axis to change direction, the higher-energy minimum is shown to be a saddle point. This resolves the long-standing question of the physical interpretation of the two triaxial minima at a very similar quadrupole shape obtained in the principal axis cranking approach. Several TSD configurations have been predicted, including a highly deformed band expected to cross lesser elongated TSD bands at the highest spins. Its transitional quadrupole moment $Q_t \approx 10.5$\,eb is close to the measured value of $\sim$11\,eb; hence, it is a candidate for the structure observed in experiment.

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Isovector channel of quark-meson-coupling model and its effect on symmetry energy

The non-relativistic approximation of the quark-meson-coupling model has been discussed and compared with the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock model which includes spin exchanges. Calculations show that the spin-exchange interaction has important effect on the descriptions of finite nuclei and nuclear matter through the Fock exchange. Also in the quark-meson-coupling model, it is the Fock exchange that leads to a nonlinear density-dependent isovector channel and changes the density-dependent behavior of the symmetry energy.

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Deformation and its influence on $K$ isomerism in neutron-rich Hf nuclei

We investigate the influence of deformation on the possible occurrence of long-lived $K$ isomers in Hf isotopes around N=116, using configuration-constrained calculations of potential-energy surfaces. Despite having reduced shape elongation, the multi-quasiparticle states in $^{186,188}$Hf remain moderately robust against triaxial distortion, supporting the long expected occurrence of exceptionally long-lived isomers. The calculations are compared with available experimental data.

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Effects of high order deformation on superheavy high-$K$ isomers

Using, for the first time, configuration-constrained potential-energy-surface calculations with the inclusion of $β_6$ deformation, we find remarkable effects of the high order deformation on the high-$K$ isomers in $^{254}$No, the focus of recent spectroscopy experiments on superheavy nuclei. For shapes with multipolarity six, the isomers are more tightly bound and, microscopically, have enhanced deformed shell gaps at $N=152$ and $Z=100$. The inclusion of $β_6$ deformation significantly improves the description of the very heavy high-$K$ isomers.

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Effect of the tensor force on the charge-exchange spin-dipole excitations of 208Pb

The charge-exchange spin-dipole (SD) excitations of 208Pb are studied by using a fully self-consistent Skyrme Hartree-Fock plus Random Phase Approximation (HF+RPA) formalism which includes the tensor interaction. It is found, for the first time, that the tensor correlations have a unique, multipole-dependent effect on the SD excitations, that is, they produce softening of 1- states, but hardening of 0- and 2- states. This paves the way to a clear assessment of the strength of the tensor terms. We compare our results with a recent measurement, showing that our choice of tensor terms improves the agreement with experiment. The robustness of our results is supported by the analytic form of the tensor matrix elements.

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Alternate proof of the Rowe-Rosensteel proposition and seniority conservation

For a system with three identical nucleons in a single-$j$ shell, the states can be written as the angular momentum coupling of a nucleon pair and the odd nucleon. The overlaps between these non-orthonormal states form a matrix which coincides with the one derived by Rowe and Rosensteel [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 87}, 172501 (2001)]. The propositions they state are related to the eigenvalue problems of the matrix and dimensions of the associated subspaces. In this work, the propositions will be proven from the symmetric properties of the $6j$ symbols. Algebraic expressions for the dimension of the states, eigenenergies as well as conditions for conservation of seniority can be derived from the matrix.

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Molecular structure of highly-excited resonant states in $^{24}$Mg and the corresponding $^8$Be+$^{16}$O and $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C decays

Exotic $^8$Be and $^{12}$C decays from high-lying resonances in $^{24}$Mg are analyzed in terms of a cluster model. The calculated quantities agree well with the corresponding experimental data. It is found that the calculated decay widths are very sensitive to the angular momentum carried by the outgoing cluster. It is shown that this property makes cluster decay a powerful tool to determine the spin as well as the molecular structures of the resonances.

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Spectroscopy of Neutron-Rich 168,170Dy: Yrast Band Evolution Close to the NpNn Valence Maximum

The yrast sequence of the neutron-rich dysprosium isotope 168Dy has been studied using multi-nucleon transfer reactions following collisions between a 460-MeV 82Se beam and a 170Er target. The reaction products were identified using the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer and the gamma rays detected using the CLARA HPGe-detector array. The 2+ and 4+ members of the previously measured ground state rotational band of 168Dy have been confirmed and the yrast band extended up to 10+. A tentative candidate for the 4+ to 2+ transition in 170Dy was also identified. The data on these nuclei and on the lighter even-even dysprosium isotopes are interpreted in terms of Total Routhian Surface calculations and the evolution of collectivity in the vicinity of the proton-neutron valence product maximum is discussed.

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Effect of Tensor Correlations on Gamow-Teller States in 90Zr and 208Pb

The tensor terms of the Skyrme effective interaction are included in the self-consistent Hartree-Fock plus Random Phase Approximation (HF+RPA) model. The Gamow-Teller (GT) strength function of 90Zr and 208Pb are calculated with and without the tensor terms. The main peaks are moved downwards by about 2 MeV when including the tensor contribution. About 10% of the non-energy weighted sum rule is shifted to the excitation energy region above 30 MeV by the RPA tensor correlations. The contribution of the tensor terms to the energy weighted sum rule is given analytically, and compared to the outcome of RPA.

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