arXiv subjects

N. Michel

Publications and source records attributed to N. Michel.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Charge radii and neutron correlations in helium halo nuclei

Within the complex-energy configuration interaction framework, we study correlations of valence neutrons to explain the behavior of charge radii in the neutron halo nuclei $^{6,8}$He. We find that the experimentally observed decrease of the charge radius between $^6$He and $^8$He is caused by a subtle interplay between three effects: dineutron correlations, a spin-orbit contribution to the charge radius, and a core swelling effect. We demonstrate that two-neutron angular correlations in the $2^+_1$ resonance of $^6$He differ markedly from the ground-state correlations in $^{6,8}$He.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Numerical treatment of long-range Coulomb potential with Berggren bases

The Schrodinger equation incorporating the long-range Coulomb potential takes the form of a Fredholm equation whose kernel is singular on its diagonal when represented by a basis bearing a continuum of states, such as in a Fourier-Bessel transform. Several methods have been devised to tackle this difficulty, from simply removing the infinite-range of the Coulomb potential with a screening or cut function to using discretizing schemes which take advantage of the integrable character of Coulomb kernel singularities. However, they have never been tested in the context of Berggren bases, which allow many-body nuclear wave functions to be expanded, with halo or resonant properties within a shell model framework. It is thus the object of this paper to test different discretization schemes of the Coulomb potential kernel in the framework of complex-energy nuclear physics. For that, the Berggren basis expansion of proton states pertaining to the sd-shell arising in the A ~ 20 region, being typically resonant, will be effected. Apart from standard frameworks involving a cut function or analytical integration of singularities, a new method will be presented, which replaces diagonal singularities by finite off-diagonal terms. It will be shown that this methodology surpasses in precision the two former techniques.

math-ph↗

arXiv2011

Isospin mixing and the continuum coupling in weakly bound nuclei

The isospin breaking effects due to the Coulomb interaction in weakly-bound nuclei are studied using the Gamow Shell Model, a complex-energy configuration interaction approach which simultaneously takes into account many-body correlations between valence nucleons and continuum effects. We investigate the near-threshold behavior of one-nucleon spectroscopic factors and the structure of wave functions along an isomultiplet. Illustrative calculations are carried out for the T=1 isobaric triplet. By using a shell-model Hamiltonian consisting of an isoscalar nuclear interaction and the Coulomb term, we demonstrate that for weakly bound or unbound systems the structure of isobaric analog states varies within the isotriplet and impacts the energy dependence of spectroscopic factors. We discuss the partial dynamical isospin symmetry present in isospin-stretched systems, in spite of the Coulomb interaction that gives rise to large mirror symmetry breaking effects.

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arXiv2010

A new facility for High energy PIXE at the ARRONAX Facility

Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) using high energy protons is a non destructive multi elemental technique that can analyze medium and heavy trace elements on thick samples. A new experimental setup is being built at the ARRONAX facility (Nantes, France) for such purpose. Tests have been made in order to quantify the background induced by a 68 MeV proton beam on a 250μm copper target. Our measurement has been compared with expected theoretical value including the various components of the bremsstrahlung and the Compton induced by gamma rays. This study has allowed us to determine a detection limit of the order of tens of ppm and has shown also the different ways to improve it. Amongst them are a better shielding of the detector and the use of lower beam intensity. Another ways consist to use the prompt gamma rays emitted by the interaction of the beam with the target nucleus as well as the registration of the decay of the activation product after the end of the bombardment. This activation and especially the production of long lived radionuclide can be controlled by tuning the proton energy and intensity resulting in a low activation which is not prejudicial to most of the samples and with almost no effect on the PIXE performances.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2010

Open problems in theory of nuclear open quantum systems

Is there a connection between the branch point singularity at the particle emission threshold and the appearance of cluster states which reveal the structure of a corresponding reaction channel? Which nuclear states are most impacted by the coupling to the scattering continuum? What should be the most important steps in developing the theory that will truly unify nuclear structure and nuclear reactions? The common denominator of these questions is the continuum shell-model approach to bound and unbound nuclear states, nuclear decays, and reactions.

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arXiv2008

A simple and efficient numerical scheme to integrate non-local potentials

As nuclear wave functions have to obey the Pauli principle, potentials issued from reaction theory or Hartree-Fock formalism using finite-range interactions contain a non-local part. Written in coordinate space representation, the Schrodinger equation becomes integro-differential, which is difficult to solve, contrary to the case of local potentials, where it is an ordinary differential equation. A simple and powerful method has been proposed several years ago, with the trivially equivalent potential method, where non-local potential is replaced by an equivalent local potential, which is state-dependent and has to be determined iteratively. Its main disadvantage, however, is the appearance of divergences in potentials if the wave functions have nodes, which is generally the case. We will show that divergences can be removed by a slight modification of the trivially equivalent potential method, leading to a very simple, stable and precise numerical technique to deal with non-local potentials. Examples will be provided with the calculation of the Hartree-Fock potential and associated wave functions of 16O using the finite-range N3LO realistic interaction.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2008

Uniform WKB approximation of Coulomb wave functions for arbitrary partial wave

Coulomb wave functions are difficult to compute numerically for extremely low energies, even with direct numerical integration. Hence, it is more convenient to use asymptotic formulas in this region. It is the object of this paper to derive analytical asymptotic formulas valid for arbitrary energies and partial waves. Moreover, it is possible to extend these formulas for complex values of parameters.

math-ph↗

arXiv2008

Shell Model in the Complex Energy Plane

This work reviews foundations and applications of the complex-energy continuum shell model that provides a consistent many-body description of bound states, resonances, and scattering states. The model can be considered a quasi-stationary open quantum system extension of the standard configuration interaction approach for well-bound (closed) systems.

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arXiv2008

Gamow-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov Method: Representation of quasiparticles with Berggren sets of wave functions

Single-particle resonant states, also called Gamow states, as well as bound and scattering states of complex energy form a complete set, the Berggren completeness relation. It is the building block of the recently introduced Gamow Shell Model, where weakly bound and resonant nuclear wave functions are expanded with a many-body basis of Slater Determinants generated by this set of single-particle states. However, Gamow states have never been studied in the context of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory, except in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schriefer (BCS) approximation, where both the upper and lower components of a quasiparticle wave function are assumed to possess the same radial dependence with that of a Gamow state associated with the Hartree-Fock potential. Hence, an extension of the notion of Gamow state has to be effected in the domain of quasiparticles. It is shown theoretically and numerically that bound, resonant and scattering quasiparticles are well defined and form a complete set, by which bound Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov ground states can be constructed. It is also shown that the Gamow-Hartree-Fock single-particle basis can be used to solve the Gamow-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov problem. As an illustration, the proposed method is applied to neutron-rich Nickel isotopes close to the neutron drip-line.

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arXiv2008

Density matrix renormalization group approach to two-fluid open many-fermion systems

We have extended the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) approach to two-fluid open many-fermion systems governed by complex-symmetric Hamiltonians. The applications are carried out for three- and four-nucleon (proton-neutron) systems within the Gamow Shell Model (GSM) in the complex-energy plane. We study necessary and sufficient conditions for the GSM+DMRG method to yield the correct ground state eigenvalue and discuss different truncation schemes within DMRG. The proposed approach will enable configuration interaction studies of weakly-bound and unbound strongly interacting complex systems which, because of a prohibitively large size of Fock space, cannot be treated by means of the direct diagonalization.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2008

A New Efficient Method of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov Calculation for Weakly Bound Nuclei

We propose a new method to solve the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov equations for weakly bound nuclei, which works for both spherical and axially deformed cases. In this approach, the quasiparticle wave functions are expanded in a complete set of analytical Poschl-Teller-Ginocchio and Bessel/Coulomb wave functions. Correct asymptotic properties of the quasiparticle wave functions are endowed in the proposed algorithm. Good agreement is obtained with the results of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculation using the box boundary condition for a set of benchmark spherical and deformed nuclei.

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arXiv2007

Fast computation of the Gauss hypergeometric function with all its parameters complex with application to the Poschl-Teller-Ginocchio potential wave functions

The fast computation of the Gauss hypergeometric function 2F1 with all its parameters complex is a difficult task. Although the 2F1 function verifies numerous analytical properties involving power series expansions whose implementation is apparently immediate, their use is thwarted by instabilities induced by cancellations between very large terms. Furthermore, small areas of the complex plane are inaccessible using only 2F1 power series formulas, thus rendering 2F1 evaluations impossible on a purely analytical basis. In order to solve these problems, a generalization of R.C. Forrey's transformation theory has been developed. The latter has been successful in treating the 2F1 function with real parameters. As in real case transformation theory, the large canceling terms occurring in 2F1 analytical formulas are rigorously dealt with, but by way of a new method, directly applicable to the complex plane. Taylor series expansions are employed to enter complex areas outside the domain of validity of power series analytical formulas. The proposed algorithm, however, becomes unstable in general when |a|,|b|,|c| are moderate or large. As a physical application, the calculation of the wave functions of the analytical Poschl-Teller-Ginocchio potential involving 2F1 evaluations is considered.

math-ph↗

arXiv2007

Continuum Coupling and Single-Nucleon Overlap Integrals

The presence of a particle continuum, both of a resonant and non-resonant character, can significantly impact spectroscopic properties of weakly bound nuclei and excited nuclear states close to, and above, the particle emission threshold. In the framework of the continuum shell model in the complex momentum-plane, the so-called Gamow Shell Model, we discuss salient effects of the continuum coupling on the one-neutron overlap integrals and the associated spectroscopic factors in neutron-rich helium and oxygen nuclei. In particular, we demonstrate a characteristic near-threshold energy dependence of the spectroscopic factors for different l-waves. We show also that the realistic radial overlap functions, which are needed for the description of transfer reactions, can be generated by single-particle wave functions of the appropriately chosen complex potential.

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arXiv2007

Threshold Effects in Multi-channel Coupling and Spectroscopic Factors in Exotic Nuclei

In the threshold region, the cross section and the associated overlap integral obey the Wigner threshold law that results in the Wigner-cusp phenomenon. Due to flux conservation, a cusp anomaly in one channel manifests itself in other open channels, even if their respective thresholds appear at a different energy. The shape of a threshold cusp depends on the orbital angular momentum of a scattered particle; hence, studies of Wigner anomalies in weakly bound nuclei with several low-lying thresholds can provide valuable spectroscopic information. In this work, we investigate the threshold behavior of spectroscopic factors in neutron-rich drip-line nuclei using the Gamow Shell Model, which takes into account many-body correlations and the continuum effects. The presence of threshold anomalies is demonstrated and the implications for spectroscopic factors are discussed.

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arXiv2007

Precise Coulomb wave functions for a wide range of complex l, eta and z

A new algorithm to calculate Coulomb wave functions with all of its arguments complex is proposed. For that purpose, standard methods such as continued fractions and power/asymptotic series are combined with direct integrations of the Schrodinger equation in order to provide very stable calculations, even for large values of |eta| or |Im(l)|. Moreover, a simple analytic continuation for Re(z) < 0 is introduced, so that this zone of the complex z-plane does not pose any problem. This code is particularly well suited for low-energy calculations and the calculation of resonances with extremely small widths. Numerical instabilities appear, however, when both |eta| and |Im(l)| are large and |Re(l)| comparable or smaller than |Im(l)|.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2007

Shell Structure of Exotic Nuclei

Theoretical predictions and experimental discoveries for neutron-rich, short-lived nuclei far from stability indicate that the familiar concept of nucleonic shell structure should be considered as less robust than previously thought. The notion of single-particle motion in exotic nuclei is reviewed with a particular focus on three aspects: (i) variations of nuclear mean field with neutron excess due to tensor interactions; (ii) importance of many-body correlations; and (iii) influence of open channels on properties of weakly bound and unbound nuclear states.

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arXiv2006

Antibound States and Halo Formation in the Gamow Shell Model

The open quantum system formulation of the nuclear shell model, the so-called Gamow Shell Model (GSM), is a multi-configurational SM that employs a single-particle basis given by the Berggren ensemble consisting of Gamow states and the non-resonant continuum of scattering states. The GSM is of particular importance for weakly bound/unbound nuclear states where both many-body correlations and the coupling to decay channels are essential. In this context, we investigate the role of l=0 antibound (virtual) neutron single-particle states in the shell model description of loosely bound wave functions, such as the ground state wave function of a halo nucleus 11Li.

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arXiv2006

Gamow shell model and realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions

We present a new and efficient method to obtain a Gamow shell-model basis and matrix elements generated by realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions. We derive a self-consistent Hartree-Fock potential from the renormalized N3LO interaction model. The corresponding Gamow one-body eigenstates are generated in a plane wave basis in order to build a Gamow shell-model set of basis states for the closed shell nuclei 4He and 16O. We address also the problem of representing a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction in a two-particle Berggren basis in the laboratory frame. To achieve this, an expansion of matrix elements of the residual nucleon-nucleon interaction in a finite set of harmonic oscillator wave functions is used. We show that all loosely bound and narrow resonant states converge surprisingly fast. Even broad resonances in these two-particle valence systems converge within a reasonable number of harmonic oscillator functions. Examples of 6He and 18O Gamow shell-model calculations using 4He and 16}O as closed shell cores are presented. This procedure allows Gamow shell-model calculations to be performed with all realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions and with either momentum or position space representations for the Gamow basis. The possibility to remove the center of mass spuriosity of Gamow shell-model nuclear states with this method is also discussed. Perspectives for nuclear structure calculations of dripline nuclei are outlined.

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