arXiv subjects

James P. Vary

Publications and source records attributed to James P. Vary.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Computational Nuclear Quantum Many-Body Problem: The UNEDF Project

The UNEDF project was a large-scale collaborative effort that applied high-performance computing to the nuclear quantum many-body problem. UNEDF demonstrated that close associations among nuclear physicists, mathematicians, and computer scientists can lead to novel physics outcomes built on algorithmic innovations and computational developments. This review showcases a wide range of UNEDF science results to illustrate this interplay.

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arXiv2013

Properties of trapped neutrons interacting with realistic nuclear Hamiltonians

We calculate properties of neutron drops in external potentials using both quantum Monte Carlo and no-core full configuration techniques. The properties of the external wells are varied to examine different density profiles. We compare neutron drop results given by a selection of nuclear Hamiltonians, including realistic two-body interactions as well as several three-body forces. We compute a range of properties for the neutron drops: ground-state energies, spin-orbit splittings, excitation energies, radial densities and rms radii. We compare the equations of state for neutron matter for several of these Hamiltonians. Our results can be used as benchmarks to test other many-body techniques, and to constrain properties of energy-density functionals.

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arXiv2012

Lithium isotopes within the ab intio no-core full configuration approach

We perform no-core full configuration calculations for the Lithium isotopes, 6Li, 7Li, and 8Li with the realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction JISP16. We obtain a set of observables, such as spectra, radii, multipole moments, transition rates, etc., and compare with experiment where available. We also present one-body density distributions for selected states. Convergence properties of these density distributions shed light on the convergence properties of one-body observables. We obtain underbinding by 0.5 MeV, 0.7 MeV, and 1.0 MeV for 6Li, 7Li, 8Li respectively. Magnetic moments are well-converged and agree with experiment to within 20%.

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arXiv2012

Structure of A = 7 - 8 nuclei with two- plus three-nucleon interactions from chiral effective field theory

We solve the ab initio no-core shell model (NCSM) in the complete Nmax = 8 basis for A = 7 and A = 8 nuclei with two-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions derived within chiral effective field theory (EFT). We find that including the chiral EFT three-nucleon interaction in the Hamiltonian improves overall good agreement with experimental binding energies, excitation spectra, transitions and electromagnetic moments. We predict states that exhibit sensitivity to including the chiral EFT three-nucleon interaction but are not yet known experimentally.

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arXiv2012

Convergence properties of {\itshape ab initio} calculations of light nuclei in a harmonic oscillator basis

We study recently proposed ultraviolet and infrared momentum regulators of the model spaces formed by construction of a variational trial wavefunction which uses a complete set of many-body basis states based upon three-dimensional harmonic oscillator (HO) functions. These model spaces are defined by a truncation of the expansion characterized by a counting number ($\mathcal{N}$) and by the intrinsic scale ($\hbarω$) of the HO basis; in short by the ordered pair ($\mathcal{N},\hbarω$). In this study we choose for $\mathcal{N}$ the truncation parameter $N_{max}$ related to the maximum number of oscillator quanta, above the minimum configuration, kept in the model space. The ultraviolet (uv) momentum cutoff of the continuum is readily mapped onto a defined uv cutoff in this finite model space, but there are two proposed definitions of the infrared (ir) momentum cutoff inherent in a finite-dimensional HO basis. One definition is based upon the lowest momentum difference given by $\hbarω$ itself and the other upon the infrared momentum which corresponds to the maximal radial extent used to encompass the many-body system in coordinate space. Extending both the uv cutoff to infinity and the ir cutoff to zero is prescribed for a converged calculation. We calculate the ground state energy of light nuclei with "bare" and "soft" $NN$ interactions. By doing so, we investigate the behaviors of the uv and ir regulators of model spaces used to describe $^2$H, $^3$H, $^4$He and $^6$He with $NN$ potentials Idaho N$^3$LO and JISP16. We establish practical procedures which utilize these regulators to obtain the extrapolated result from sequences of calculations with model spaces characterized by ($\mathcal{N},\hbarω$).

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arXiv2011

Hamiltonian Light-Front Field Theory: Recent Progress and Tantalizing Prospects

Fundamental theories, such as Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) promise great predictive power addressing phenomena over vast scales from the microscopic to cosmic scales. However, new non-perturbative tools are required for physics to span from one scale to the next. I outline recent theoretical and computational progress to build these bridges and provide illustrative results for Hamiltonian Light Front Field Theory. One key area is our development of basis function approaches that cast the theory as a Hamiltonian matrix problem while preserving a maximal set of symmetries. Regulating the theory with an external field that can be removed to obtain the continuum limit offers additional possibilities as seen in an application to the anomalous magnetic moment of the electron. Recent progress capitalizes on algorithm and computer developments for setting up and solving very large sparse matrix eigenvalue problems. Matrices with dimensions of 20 billion basis states are now solved on leadership-class computers for their low-lying eigenstates and eigenfunctions.

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arXiv2011

Electron Anomalous Magnetic Moment in Basis Light-Front Quantization Approach

We apply the Basis Light-Front Quantization (BLFQ) approach to the Hamiltonian field theory of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) in free space. We solve for the mass eigenstates corresponding to an electron interacting with a single photon in light-front gauge. Based on the resulting non-perturbative ground state light-front amplitude we evaluate the electron anomalous magnetic moment. The numerical results from extrapolating to the infinite basis limit reproduce the perturbative Schwinger result with relative deviation less than 0.6%. We report significant improvements over previous works including the development of analytic methods for evaluating the vertex matrix elements of QED.

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arXiv2011

Boundary between Hadron and Quark/Gluon Structure of Nuclei

We show that the boundary between quark-dominated and hadron-dominated regions of nuclear structure may be blurred by multi-nucleon quark clusters arising from color percolation. Recent experiments supporting partial percolation in cold nuclei and full percolation in hot/dense nuclear matter include: deep inelastic lepton-nucleus scattering, relativistic heavy-ion collisions and the binding energy in $^5 He_Λ$.

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arXiv2010

Nucleon-Nucleon Scattering in a Harmonic Potential

The discrete energy-eigenvalues of two nucleons interacting with a finite-range nuclear force and confined to a harmonic potential are used to numerically reconstruct the free-space scattering phase shifts. The extracted phase shifts are compared to those obtained from the exact continuum scattering solution and agree within the uncertainties of the calculations. Our results suggest that it might be possible to determine the amplitudes for the scattering of complex systems, such as n-d, n-t or n-alpha, from the energy-eigenvalues confined to finite volumes using ab-initio bound-state techniques.

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arXiv2009

{\it Ab initio} nuclear structure - the large sparse matrix eigenvalue problem

The structure and reactions of light nuclei represent fundamental and formidable challenges for microscopic theory based on realistic strong interaction potentials. Several {\it ab initio} methods have now emerged that provide nearly exact solutions for some nuclear properties. The {\it ab initio} no core shell model (NCSM) and the no core full configuration (NCFC) method, frame this quantum many-particle problem as a large sparse matrix eigenvalue problem where one evaluates the Hamiltonian matrix in a basis space consisting of many-fermion Slater determinants and then solves for a set of the lowest eigenvalues and their associated eigenvectors. The resulting eigenvectors are employed to evaluate a set of experimental quantities to test the underlying potential. For fundamental problems of interest, the matrix dimension often exceeds $10^{10}$ and the number of nonzero matrix elements may saturate available storage on present-day leadership class facilities. We survey recent results and advances in solving this large sparse matrix eigenvalue problem. W also outline the challenges that lie ahead for achieving further breakthroughs in fundamental nuclear theory using these {\it ab initio} approaches.

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arXiv2007

Evidence for Symplectic Symmetry in Ab Initio No-Core Shell Model Results for Light Nuclei

Clear evidence for symplectic symmetry in low-lying states of $^{12}$C and $^{16}$O is reported. Eigenstates of $^{12}$C and $^{16}$O, determined within the framework of the no-core shell model using the JISP16 $NN$ realistic interaction, typically project at the 85-90% level onto a few of the most deformed symplectic basis states that span only a small fraction of the full model space. The results are nearly independent of whether the bare or renormalized effective interactions are used in the analysis. The outcome confirms Elliott's \SU{3} model which underpins the symplectic scheme, and above all, points to the relevance of a symplectic no-core shell model that can reproduce experimental B(E2) values without effective charges as well as deformed spatial modes associated with clustering phenomena in nuclei.

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arXiv2007

Light Nuclei in the Framework of the Symplectic No-core Shell Model

A symplectic no-core shell model (Sp-NCSM) is constructed with the goal of extending the {\it ab-initio} NCSM to include strongly deformed higher-oscillator-shell configurations and to reach heavier nuclei that cannot be studied currently because the spaces encountered are too large to handle, even with the best of modern-day computers. This goal is achieved by integrating two powerful concepts: the {\it ab-initio} NCSM with that of the $\mathrm{Sp}(3,\mathbb{R})\supset\mathrm{SU}(3)$ group-theoretical approach. The NCSM uses modern realistic nuclear interactions in model spaces that consists of many-body configurations up to a given number of $\hbarΩ$ excitations together with modern high-performance parallel computing techniques. The symplectic theory extends this picture by recognizing that when deformed configurations dominate, which they often do, the model space can be better selected so less relevant low-lying $\hbarΩ$ configurations yield to more relevant high-lying $\hbarΩ$ configurations, ones that respect a near symplectic symmetry found in the Hamiltonian. Results from an application of the Sp-NCSM to light nuclei are compared with those for the NCSM and with experiment.

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arXiv2007

Symplectic Symmetry and the Ab Initio No-Core Shell Model

The symplectic symmetry of eigenstates for the $0^+_{gs}$ in $^{16}$O and the $0^+_{gs}$ and lowest $2^+$ and $4^+$ configurations of $^{12}$C that are well-converged within the framework of the no-core shell model with the JISP16 realistic interaction is examined. These states are found to project at the 85-90% level onto very few symplectic representations including the most deformed configuration, which confirms the importance of a symplectic no-core shell model and reaffirms the relevance of the Elliott $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ model upon which the symplectic scheme is built.

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arXiv2007

Multi-nucleon correlations in Deep Inelastic Scattering at large Bjorken xB

Using realistic nuclear many-body wave functions in the collinear factorization framework, we evaluate nuclear Deep Inelastic Scattering at large Bjorken xB, where correlations are needed to exceed the kinematic limits of a single free nucleon. We find that recent experimental data on cross-section ratios from the CLAS collaboration exhibit features that are not reproduced by modern 2- and 3-nucleon correlations in the nuclear wave function. New physical mechanisms are needed to explain data in the 2<xB<3 range.

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arXiv2006

From non-Hermitian effective operators to large-scale no-core shell model calculations for light nuclei

No-core shell model (NCSM) calculations using ab initio effective interactions are very successful in reproducing experimental nuclear spectra. The main theoretical approach is the use of effective operators, which include correlations left out by the truncation of the model space to a numerically tractable size. We review recent applications of the effective operator approach, within a NCSM framework, to the renormalization of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, as well as scalar and tensor operators.

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arXiv2006

Long- and short-range correlations in the ab-initio no-core shell model

In the framework of the ab-initio no-core shell model (NCSM), we describe the longitudinal-longitudinal distribution function, part of the inclusive (e,e') longitudinal response. In the two-body cluster approximation, we compute the effective operators consistent with the unitary transformation used to obtain the effective Hamiltonian. When short-range correlations are probed, the results display independence from the model space size and length scale. Long-range correlations are more difficult to model in the NCSM and they can be described only by increasing the model space or increasing the cluster size. In order to illustrate the model space independence for short-range observables, we present results for a large set of model spaces for 4He, and in 0-4hw model spaces for 12C.

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arXiv2005

Ab initio results for the broken phase of scalar light front field theory

We present nonperturbative light-front energy eigenstates in the broken phase of a two dimensional $\fracλ{4!}ϕ^4$ quantum field theory using Discrete Light Cone Quantization and extrapolate the results to the continuum limit. We establish degeneracy in the even and odd particle sectors and extract the masses of the lowest two states and the vacuum energy density for $λ=0.5$ and 1.0. We present two novel results: the Fourier transform of the form factor of the lowest excitation as well as the number density of elementary constituents of that state. A coherent state with kink - antikink structure is revealed.

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arXiv2005

Effective operators within the ab initio no-core shell model

We implement an effective operator formalism for general one- and two-body operators, obtaining results consistent with the no-core shell model (NCSM) wave functions. The Argonne V8' nucleon-nucleon potential was used in order to obtain realistic wave functions for 4He, 6Li and 12C. In the NCSM formalism, we compute electromagnetic properties using the two-body cluster approximation for the effective operators and obtain results which are sensitive to the range of the bare operator. To illuminate the dependence on the range, we employ a Gaussian two-body operator of variable range, finding weak renormalization of long range operators (e.g., quadrupole) in a fixed model space. This is understood in terms of the two-body cluster approximation which accounts mainly for short-range correlations. Consequently, short range operators, such as the relative kinetic energy, will be well renormalized in the two-body cluster approximation.

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