arXiv subjects

M. Colonna

Publications and source records attributed to M. Colonna.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Bayesian inference of neutron star crust properties using an ab initio-benchmarked meta-model

Accurate modeling of the neutron star crust is essential for interpreting multimessenger observations and constraining the nuclear equation of state (EoS). However, standard phenomenological EoS models often rely on heuristic extrapolations in the low-density regime, which are inconsistent with microscopic predictions. In this work, we refine a unified meta-modeling framework for the EoS by incorporating low-density corrections based on energy density functionals constrained by ab initio neutron-matter calculations. Using Bayesian inference to combine information from astrophysical observations, nuclear theory, and experiments, we assess the impact of these corrections on key crustal properties, including the crust-core transition density and pressure, crustal composition, and moment of inertia. The improved model reduces uncertainties in the inner crust and emphasizes the importance of low-density physics in EoS modeling, highlighting the value of integrating both theoretical and observational constraints across densities to robustly describe the EoS. Moreover, the adopted approach can be readily applied to any existing EoS model to provide a solid framework for interpreting upcoming high-precision multimessenger data.

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arXiv2022

Analysis of one-neutron transfer reaction in $^{18}$O + $^{76}$Se collision at 275 MeV

Purpose: We want to analyze transitions to low-lying excited states of the residual and ejectile nuclei in the 76Se(18O, 17O) 77Se one-neutron stripping reaction at 275-MeV incident energy and determine the role of single-particle and core excitation in the description of the measured cross sections. In addition, we explore the sensitivity of the calculated cross section to different nuclear structure models. Methods: The excitation energy spectrum and the differential cross-section angular distributions are measured using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer for the detection of the ejectiles and the missing mass technique for the reconstruction of the reaction kinematics. The data are compared with calculations based on distorted-wave Born approximation, coupled-channels Born approximation, and coupled reaction channels adopting spectroscopic amplitudes for the projectile and target overlaps derived by large-scale shell-model calculations and interacting boson-fermion model. Results: Peaks in the energy spectra corresponding to groups of unresolved transitions to 77Se and 17O are identified. The experimental cross sections are extracted and compared to theoretical calculations. A remarkable agreement is found, without using any scaling factors, demonstrating that the adopted models for nuclear structure and reaction take into account the relevant aspects of the studied processes. The main transitions which contribute to the cross section of each peak are identified.

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arXiv2022

Interplay between surface and volume instabilities in heavy-ion collisions examined within mean-field extensions

In the transition from nuclear matter to finite nuclei, complex finite-size effects which characterise open systems arise, in relation with either the nuclear surface or the bulk. In addition, the non-equilibrium character of the process, typical of violent heavy-ion collisions (from Fermi energy to the intermediate-energy domain) adds up as well. The resulting dynamics is the combination of surface and volume unstable modes which trigger large-amplitude fluctuations. A rich variety of fragmentation patterns may emerge, ranging from collimated streams of nuclear clusters to the split of a stretched nuclear complex into few large fragments. They imply different conditions of density and surface tension, and result in different chronologies. Such phenomenology has been observed in experiments, but it is often difficult to recognise and disentangle the underlying types of instabilities. To draw some example, two extremely deformed nuclear systems, produced below and above Fermi energy, are chosen and followed microscopically all along their evolution within the Boltzmann-Langevin One-Body approach.

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arXiv2022

Multi-channel experimental and theoretical constraints for the $^{116}$Cd($^{20}$Ne,$^{20}$F)$^{116}$In charge exchange reaction at 306 MeV

Charge exchange (CE) reactions offer a major opportunity to excite nuclear isovector modes, providing clues about the nuclear interaction in the medium. Moreover, double charge exchange (DCE) reactions are proving to be a tempting tool to access nuclear transition matrix elements (NME) related to double beta-decay processes. Through a multi-channel experimental analysis and a consistent theoretical approach of the $^{116}$Cd($^{20}$Ne,$^{20}$F)$^{116}$In single charge exchange (SCE) reaction at 306 MeV, we aim at disentangling from the experimental cross section the contribution of the competing mechanisms, associated with second or higher order sequential transfer and inelastic processes. We measured excitation energy spectra and absolute cross sections for elastic + inelastic, one-proton transfer and SCE channels, using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer to detect the ejectiles. For the first two channels, we also extracted the experimental cross section angular distributions. The experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions obtained by performing two-step distorted wave Born approximation and coupled reaction channel calculations. We employ spectroscopic amplitudes for single-particle transitions derived within a large-scale shell model approach and different optical potentials for modeling the initial and the final state interactions. The present study significantly mitigates the possible model dependence existing in the description of these complex reaction mechanisms, thanks to the reproduction of several channels at once. In particular, our work demonstrates that the two-step transfer mechanisms produce a non negligible contribution to the total cross section of the $^{116}$Cd($^{20}$Ne,$^{20}$F)$^{116}$In reaction channel, although a relevant fraction is still missing, being ascribable to the direct SCE mechanism, which is not addressed here.

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arXiv2021

Analysis of two-nucleon transfer reactions in the 20Ne + 116Cd system at 306 MeV

Background: Heavy-ion induced two-nucleon transfer reactions are powerful tools to reveal peculiar aspects of the atomic nucleus, such as pairing correlations, single-particle and collective degrees of freedom, and more. Also, these processes are in competition with the direct meson exchange in the double charge exchange reactions, which have recently attracted great interest due to their possible connection to neutrinoless double-beta decay. In this framework, the exploration of two-nucleon transfer reactions in the 20Ne+116Cd collision at energies above the Coulomb barrier is particularly relevant since the 116Cd nucleus is a candidate for the double-beta decay. Methods: We measured the excitation energy spectra and absolute cross sections for the two reactions using the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer to detect the ejectiles. We performed direct coupled reaction channels and sequential distorted wave Born approximation calculations using the double folding S\~ao Paulo potential to model the initial and final state interactions. The spectroscopic amplitudes for two- and singleparticle transitions were derived by different nuclear structure approaches: microscopic large-scale shell model, interacting boson model-2 and quasiparticle random phase approximation. Results: The calculations are able to reproduce the experimental cross sections for both two-neutron and twoproton transfer reactions. The role of couplings with the inelastic channels are found to be important in the two-proton transfer case. A competition between the direct and the sequential process is found in the reaction mechanism. For the two-proton transfer case, the inclusion of the 1g7/2 and 2d5/2 orbitals in the model space is crucial.

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arXiv2020

The isoscalar features of Pygmy Dipole Resonance: a subtle game of symmetry energy

The vibrational structure of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance (PDR) is investigated within a quantum many-body treatment with extended separable interactions able to encode the dependence of nuclear symmetry energy on density. A new picture of PDR is unveiled in terms of a combined dynamics of the neutron skin and of the core isovector polarization, which determines the isoscalar features of PDR while reproducing the isovector properties of Giant Dipole Resonance. The key role played by the variation with density of the symmetry energy on shaping the low-lying dipole response and its isoscalar-isovector structure is underlined. Our results provide insights for the challenge of clarifying the transition from skin oscillation to a highly bulk collective dynamics.

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arXiv2020

Preliminary results in using Deep Learning to emulate BLOB, a nuclear interaction model

Purpose: A reliable model to simulate nuclear interactions is fundamental for Ion-therapy. We already showed how BLOB ("Boltzmann-Langevin One Body"), a model developed to simulate heavy ion interactions up to few hundreds of MeV/u, could simulate also $^{12}$C reactions in the same energy domain. However, its computation time is too long for any medical application. For this reason we present the possibility of emulating it with a Deep Learning algorithm. Methods: The BLOB final state is a Probability Density Function (PDF) of finding a nucleon in a position of the phase space. We discretised this PDF and trained a Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE) to reproduce such a discrete PDF. As a proof of concept, we developed and trained a VAE to emulate BLOB in simulating the interactions of $^{12}$C with $^{12}$C at 62 MeV/u. To have more control on the generation, we forced the VAE latent space to be organised with respect to the impact parameter ($b$) training a classifier of $b$ jointly with the VAE. Results: The distributions obtained from the VAE are similar to the input ones and the computation time needed to use the VAE as a generator is negligible. Conclusions: We show that it is possible to use a Deep Learning approach to emulate a model developed to simulate nuclear reactions in the energy range of interest for Ion-therapy. We foresee the implementation of the generation part in C++ and to interface it with the most used Monte Carlo toolkit: Geant4.

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arXiv2020

NURE: An ERC project to study nuclear reactions for neutrinoless double beta decay

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0{\nu}\b{eta}\b{eta}) is considered the best potential resource to determine the absolute neutrino mass scale. Moreover, if observed, it will signal that the total lepton number is not conserved and neutrinos are their own anti-particles. Presently, this physics case is one of the most important research beyond Standard Model and might guide the way towards a Grand Unified Theory of fundamental interactions. Since the \b{eta}\b{eta} decay process involves nuclei, its analysis necessarily implies nuclear structure issues. The 0{\nu}\b{eta}\b{eta} decay rate can be expressed as a product of independent factors: the phase-space factors, the nuclear matrix elements (NME) and a function of the masses of the neutrino species. Thus the knowledge of the NME can give information on the neutrino mass scale, if the 0{\nu}\b{eta}\b{eta} decay rate is measured. In the NURE project, supported by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council, nuclear reactions of double charge-exchange (DCE) will be used as a tool to extract information on the \b{eta}\b{eta} NME. In DCE reactions and \b{eta}\b{eta} decay, the initial and final nuclear states are the same and the transition operators have similar structure. Thus the measurement of the DCE absolute crosssections can give crucial information on \b{eta}\b{eta} matrix elements.

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arXiv2020

Measuring nuclear reaction cross sections to extract information on neutrinoless double beta decay

Neutrinoless double beta decay (0v\b{eta}\b{eta}) is considered the best potential resource to access the absolute neutrino mass scale. Moreover, if observed, it will signal that neutrinos are their own anti-particles (Majorana particles). Presently, this physics case is one of the most important research "beyond Standard Model" and might guide the way towards a Grand Unified Theory of fundamental interactions. Since the 0v\b{eta}\b{eta} decay process involves nuclei, its analysis necessarily implies nuclear structure issues. In the NURE project, supported by a Starting Grant of the European Research Council (ERC), nuclear reactions of double charge-exchange (DCE) are used as a tool to extract information on the 0v\b{eta}\b{eta} Nuclear Matrix Elements. In DCE reactions and \b{eta}\b{eta} decay indeed the initial and final nuclear states are the same and the transition operators have similar structure. Thus the measurement of the DCE absolute cross-sections can give crucial information on \b{eta}\b{eta} matrix elements. In a wider view, the NUMEN international collaboration plans a major upgrade of the INFN-LNS facilities in the next years in order to increase the experimental production of nuclei of at least two orders of magnitude, thus making feasible a systematic study of all the cases of interest as candidates for 0v\b{eta}\b{eta}.

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arXiv2019

20Ne + 76Ge elastic and inelastic scattering at 306 MeV

Background: Double charge exchange (DCE) nuclear reactions have recently attracted much interest as tools to provide experimentally driven information about nuclear matrix elements of interest in the context of neutrinoless double-beta decay. In this framework, a good description of the reaction mechanism and a complete knowledge of the initial and final-state interactions are mandatory. Presently, not enough is known about the details of the optical potentials and nuclear response to isospin operators for many of the projectile-target systems proposed for future DCE studies. Among these, the 20Ne + 76Ge DCE reaction is particularly relevant due to its connection with 76Ge double-beta decay. Purpose: We intend to characterize the initial-state interaction for the 20Ne + 76Ge reactions at 306 MeV bombarding energy and determine the optical potential and the role of the couplings between elastic channel and inelastic transitions to the first low-lying excited states. Methods: We determine the experimental elastic and inelastic scattering cross-section angular distributions, compare the theoretical predictions by adopting different models of optical potentials with the experimental data, and evaluate the coupling effect through the comparison of the distorted-wave Born approximation calculations with the coupled channels ones. Results: Optical models fail to describe the elastic angular distribution above the grazing angle (9.4{\deg}). A correction in the geometry to effectively account for deformation of the involved nuclear systems improves the agreement up to about 14{\deg}. Coupled channels effects are crucial to obtain good agreement at large angles in the elastic scattering cross section.

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arXiv2019

Dynamic description of ternary and quaternary splits of heavy nuclear systems in the deep-inelastic regime

Colliding heavy nuclear systems in the deep-inelastic regime may undergo partitioning into multiple fragments when fusion can not be achieved. While multiple breakups are common at Fermi energy, they are rather exotic in the deep-inelastic regime, where density, excitation and, in general, transport conditions, are expected to be different. Abundant ternary and quaternary splits have been observed in recent experiments, for instance in symmetric semi-central and semi-peripheral collisions with heavy systems, like $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ + $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ at 15 MeV per nucleon. In these conditions, we undertook a microscopic description of the reaction dynamics. Relying on the full solution of the Boltzmann-Langevin equation implemented in the BLOB approach, we could follow in time the development of instabilities along deformation.

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arXiv2019

Heavy ion charge exchange reactions and the link with beta decay processes

Within the DWBA framework, we develop a theoretical description of single and double heavy ion charge exchange (CE) reactions. We show that absorption effects are particularly important for heavy ion reactions, leading to a noticeable reduction of the CE cross sections. At low momentum transfer, the single CE cross section can be factorised, thus allowing to evaluate corresponding distortion factors and access beta decay strengths. Applications are shown for a system of experimental interest. Preliminary results are discussed also for double CE reactions, modeled as a two-step mechanisms, i.e. a sequence of two charge-changing processes.

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arXiv2019

Nuclear jets in heavy-ion collisions recall a stream of sand

Head-on collisions between nuclei of different size at Fermi energies may give rise to extremely deformed dynamical regimes and patterns. Those latter, may suddenly turn into a stream of nuclear clusters, resembling collimated jets. Because the underlying instabilities are inadequately described by usual modelling approaches based on equilibrium approximations, this mechanism resulted rather unnoticed, even though it should be frequently registered in experiments. We employ the Boltzmann-Langevin equation to specifically address out-of-equilibrium conditions and handle dynamical fluctuations. An interesting interplay between surface and volume instabilities is discussed for the first time. Stable and rather regular patterns of streaming clusters arise from these conditions. Counterintuitively, we find that these clustered structures are not triggered by cohesive forces and they recall the granular flow of a stream of dry sand.

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arXiv2019

How nuclear jets form and disintegrate into clusters in heavy-ion collisions

The most extreme deformations that can be explored in heavy-ion collisions at Fermi-energies are collimated flows of nuclear matter which recall jet dynamics. From microphysics to the cosmological scale, jets are rather common topologies. In nuclear physics, pioneering works focused on the breakup of these structures, resulting into early nuclear-fission models in analogy to the droplet formation in viscous liquids; such view became emblematic to explain surface-energy effects and surface instability by analogy with the Rayleigh instability. Through a dynamical approach based on the Boltzmann-Langevin equation, well adapted to out-of-equilibrium conditions, we explored the possibility that nuclear jets could arise in heavy-ion collisions from different conditions than those leading to fission or neck fragmentation, and that they can breakup from mechanisms that are almost unrelated to cohesive properties.

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arXiv2018

The NUMEN project: NUclear Matrix Elements for Neutrinoless double beta decay

The article describes the main achievements of the NUMEN project together with an updated and detailed overview of the related R&D activities and theoretical developments. NUMEN proposes an innovative technique to access the nuclear matrix elements entering the expression of the lifetime of the double beta decay by cross section measurements of heavy-ion induced Double Charge Exchange (DCE) reactions. Despite the two processes, namely neutrinoless double beta decay and DCE reactions, are triggered by the weak and strong interaction respectively, important analogies are suggested. The basic point is the coincidence of the initial and final state many-body wave-functions in the two types of processes and the formal similarity of the transition operators. First experimental results obtained at the INFN-LNS laboratory for the 40Ca(18O,18Ne)40Ar reaction at 270 MeV, give encouraging indication on the capability of the proposed technique to access relevant quantitative information. The two major aspects for this project are the K800 Superconducting Cyclotron and MAGNEX spectrometer. The former is used for the acceleration of the required high resolution and low emittance heavy ion beams and the latter is the large acceptance magnetic spectrometer for the detection of the ejectiles. The use of the high-order trajectory reconstruction technique, implemented in MAGNEX, allows to reach the experimental resolution and sensitivity required for the accurate measurement of the DCE cross sections at forward angles. However, the tiny values of such cross sections and the resolution requirements demand beam intensities much larger than manageable with the present facility. The on-going upgrade of the INFN-LNS facilities in this perspective is part of the NUMEN project and will be discussed in the article.

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arXiv2018

Proton-proton 1S0 pairing in neutron star

The onset of 1S0 proton spin-singlet pairing in neutron-star matter is studied in the framework of the BCS theory including medium polarization effects. The strong three-body coupling of the diproton pairs with the dense neutron environment and the self-energy effects severely reduce the gap magnitude, so to reshape the scenario of the proton superfluid phase inside the star. The vertex corrections due to the medium polarization are attractive in all isospin-asymmetry range at low density and tend to favor the pairing in that channel. However quantitative estimates of their effect on the energy gap do not give significant changes. Implications of the new scenario on the role of pairing in neutron-star cooling is briefly discussed.

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arXiv2018

Interplay between low-lying isoscalar and isovector dipole modes: a comparative analysis between semi-classical and quantum approaches

We perform Time Dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations to investigate the small amplitude dipole response of selected neutron-rich nuclei and Sn isotopes. A detailed comparison with the dipole strength predicted by Random-Phase Approximation (RPA) calculations is presented for the first time. TDHF results are also confronted to Vlasov calculations, to explore up to which extent a semi-classical picture can explain the properties of the nuclear response. The focus is on the low-energy response, below the Giant Dipole Resonance region, where different modes of non negligible strength are identified. We show that the relative weight of these excitations evolves with nuclear global features, such as density profile and neutron skin, which in turn reflect impor tant properties of the nuclear effective interaction. A thorough analysis of the associated transition densities turns out to be quite useful to better characterize the mixed isoscalar(IS)/isovector(IV) nature of the different modes and their surface/volume components. In particular, we show that the dipole response in the so-called Pygmy Dipole Resonance region corresponds to isoscalar-like surface oscillations, of larger strength in nuclei with a more diffuse surface. The ratio between the IV and IS Energy Weighted Sum Rule fractions exhausted in this region is shown to almost linearly increase with the neutron skin thickness in Sn isotopes.

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arXiv2018

Connecting the nuclear EoS to the interplay between fusion and quasifission processes in low-energy nuclear reactions

Within the Time Dependent Hartree Fock (TDHF) approach, we investigate the impact of several ingredients of the nuclear effective interaction, such as incompressibility, symmetry energy, effective mass, derivative of the Lane potential and surface terms on the exit channel (fusion vs quasifission) observed in the reaction $^{238}$U+$^{40}$Ca, close to the Coulomb barrier. Our results show that all the ingredients listed above contribute to the competition between fusion and quasifission processes, however the leading role in determining the outcome of the reaction is played by incompressibility, symmetry energy and the isoscalar coefficient of the surface term. This study unravels the complexity of the fusion and quasifission reaction dynamics and helps to understand the microscopic processes responsible for the final outcome of low energy heavy ion collisions in terms of relevant features of the nuclear effective interaction and associated equation of state (EoS).

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