arXiv subjects

N. Van Giai

Publications and source records attributed to N. Van Giai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

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.

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arXiv2013

Nuclear charge-exchange excitations in localized covariant density functional theory

The recent progress in the studies of nuclear charge-exchange excitations with localized covariant density functional theory is briefly presented, by taking the fine structure of spin-dipole excitations in 16O as an example. It is shown that the constraints introduced by the Fock terms of the relativistic Hartree-Fock scheme into the particle-hole residual interactions are straightforward and robust.

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arXiv2013

A beyond-mean-field example with zero-range effective interactions in infinite nuclear matter

Zero-range effective interactions are commonly used in nuclear physics to describe a many-body system in the mean-field framework. If they are employed in beyond- mean-field models, an artificial ultraviolet divergence is generated by the zero-range of the interaction. We analyze this problem in symmetric nuclear matter with the t0-t3 Skyrme model. In this case, the second-order energy correction diverges linearly with the momentum cutoff. After that, we extend the work to the case of nuclear matter with the full Skyrme interaction. A strong divergence related to the velocity-dependent terms of the interaction is obtained. Moreover, a global fit can be simultaneously performed for both symmetric and nuclear matter with different neutron-to-proton ratios. These results pave the way for applications to finite nuclei in the framework of beyond mean-field theories.

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arXiv2010

Beyond-mean-field theories with zero-range effective interactions. A way to handle the ultraviolet divergence

Zero-range effective interactions are commonly used in nuclear physics and in other domains to describe many-body systems within the mean-field model. If they are used within a beyond-mean-field framework, contributions to the total energy that display an ultraviolet divergence are found. We propose a general strategy to regularize this divergence and we illustrate it in the case of the second-order corrections to the equation of state (EOF) of uniform symmetric matter. By setting a momentum cutoff $Λ$, we show that for every (physically meaningful) value of $Λ$ it is possible to determine a new interaction such that the EOS with the second-order corrections reproduces the empirical EOS, with a fit of the same quality as that obtained at the mean-field level.

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arXiv2008

Bubbles in $^{34}$Si and $^{22}$O?

Bubble nuclei are characterized by a depletion of their central density. Their existence is examined within three different theoretical frameworks: the shell model as well as non-relativistic and relativistic microscopic mean-field approaches. We propose $^{34}$Si and $^{22}$O as possible candidates for proton and neutron bubble nuclei, respectively. In the case of $^{22}$O, we observe a significant model dependence, thereby calling into question the bubble structure of $^{22}$O. In contrast, an overall agreement among the models is obtained for $^{34}$Si. Indeed, all models predict a central proton density depletion of about 40%. This result provides strong evidence in favor of a proton bubble in $^{34}$Si.

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arXiv2007

Detecting bubbles in exotic nuclei

The occurrence of a bubble, due to an inversion of s$_{1/2}$ state with the state usually located above, is investigated. Proton bubbles in neutron-rich Argon isotopes are optimal candidates. Pairing effects which can play against the bubble formation are evaluated. They cannot prevent bubble formation in very neutron-rich argon isotopes such as $^{68}$Ar. This pleads for a measurement of the charge density of neutron-rich argon isotopes in the forthcoming years, with the advent of electron scattering experiments in next generation exotic beam facilities such as FAIR or RIBF.

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arXiv2007

Equation of state in the inner crust of neutron stars: discusion of the unbound neutron states

In this paper, we calculate the stable Wigner-Seitz (W-S) cells in the inner crust of neutron stars and we discuss the nuclear shell effects. A distinction is done between the shell effects due to the bound states and those induced by the unbound states, which are shown to be spurious. We then estimate the effects of the spurious shells on the total energy and decompose it into a smooth and a residual part. We propose a correction to the Hartree-Fock binding energy in Wigner-Seitz cell (HF-WS).

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arXiv2007

Evolution of the proton sd states in neutron-rich Ca isotopes

We analyze the evolution with increasing isospin asymmetry of the proton single-particle states 2s1/2 and 1d3/2 in Ca isotopes, using non-relativistic and relativistic mean field approaches. Both models give similar trends and it is shown that this evolution is sensitive to the neutron shell structure, the two states becoming more or less close depending on the neutron orbitals which are filled. In the regions where the states get closer some parametrizations predict an inversion between them. This inversion occurs near $^{48}$Ca as well as very far from stability where the two states systematically cross each other if the drip line predicted in the model is located far enough. We study in detail the modification of the two single-particle energies by using the equivalent potential in the Schroedinger-like Skyrme-Hartree-Fock equations. The role played by central, kinetic and spin-orbit contributions is discussed. We finally show that the effect of a tensor component in the effective interaction considerably favors the inversion of the two proton states in $^{48}$Ca.

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arXiv2006

Giant neutron halos in the non-relativistic mean field approach

Giant neutron halos in medium-heavy nuclei are studied in the framework of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approach with Skyrme interactions. The appearance of such structures depends sensitively on the effective interaction adopted. This is illustrated by comparing the predictions of SLy4 and SkI4 in the Ca and Zr isotopic chains. The former force gives no halo effect, the latter predicts a neutron halo in the Zr chain with A>122 due to the weakly bound orbitals 3p1/2 and 3p3/2. The structure of the halo is analyzed in terms of the occupation probabilities of these orbitals and their partial contributions to the neutron density. The anti-halo effect in Ni and Zr isotopes is also discussed by comparing the occupation probabilities of Hartree-Fock neutron single-particle states near the Fermi energy with the corresponding HFB quasiparticle states.

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arXiv2004

Microscopic determination of the nuclear incompressibility within the non-relativistic framework

The nuclear incompressibility $K_\infty$ is deduced from measurements of the Isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance (ISGMR) in medium-heavy nuclei, and the resulting value turns out to be model dependent. Since the considered nuclei have neutron excess, it has been suggested that the model dependence is due to the different behaviour of the symmetry energy in different models. To clarify this issue, we make a systematic and careful analysis based on new Skyrme forces which span a wide range of values for $K_\infty$, for the value of the symmetry energy at saturation and for its density dependence. By calculating, in a fully self-consistent fashion, the ISGMR centroid energy in $^{208}$Pb we reach, for the first time within the non-relativistic framework, three important conclusions: (i) the monopole energy, and consequently the deduced value of $K_\infty$, depend on a well defined parameter related to the shape of the symmetry energy curve and called $K_{sym}$; (ii) Skyrme forces of the type of SLy4 predict $K_\infty$ around 230 MeV, in agreement with the Gogny force (previous estimates using Skyrme interactions having been plagued by lack of full self-consistency); (iii) it is possible to build forces which predict $K_\infty$ around 250 MeV, although part of this increase is due to our poor knowledge of the density dependence and effective mass.

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arXiv2003

Theoretical understanding of the nuclear incompressibility: where do we stand ?

The status of the theoretical research on the compressional modes of finite nuclei and the incompressibility $K_\infty$ of nuclear matter, is reviewed. It is argued that the recent experimental data on the Isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance (ISGMR) allow extracting the value of $K_\infty$ with an uncertainity of about $\pm$ 12 MeV. Non-relativistic (Skyrme, Gogny) and relativistic mean field models predict for $K_\infty$ values which are significantly different from one another, namely $\approx$ 220-235 and $\approx$ 250-270 MeV respectively. It is shown that the solution of this puzzle requires a better determination of the symmetry energy at, and around, saturation. The role played by the experimental data of the Isoscalar Giant Dipole Resonance (ISGDR) is also discussed.

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arXiv2003

Neutrino mean free path in neutron stars

The neutrino propagation in neutron stars is studied in the framework of the linear response method. The medium effects are treated in the non-relativistic Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approach either in the mean-field approximation or in the RPA. The residual interaction is expressed in terms of the Landau parameters extracted from the equation of state of spin- and isospin-polarized nuclear matter. The Brueckner theory including three-body forces is used for determining the equation of state. Numerical predictions for the response function of nuclear matter in $β$-equilibrium and the neutrino mean free path are presented in a range of baryonic densities and temperatures. The main results are a dominance of the charge-exchange component over the scattering component and an enhancement of the neutrino mean free path induced by nuclear correlations.

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arXiv2002

Neutrino Mean Free Path in Neutron Stars

The Landau parameters of nuclear matter and neutron matter are extracted from the Brueckner theory including three-body forces. The dynamical response function to weak neutrino current is calculated in terms of the Landau Parameters in the RPA limit. Then, the neutrino mean free path in neutron stars is calculated for different conditions of density and temperature.

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arXiv2002

Neutrino mean free path and in-medium nuclear interaction

Neutrinos produced during the collapse of a massive star are trapped in a nuclear medium (the proto-neutron star). Typically, neutrino energies (10-100 MeV) are of the order of nuclear giant resonances energies. Hence, neutrino propagation is modified by the possibility of coherent scattering on nucleons. We have compared the predictions of different nuclear interaction models. It turns out that their main discrepancies are related to the density dependence of the k-effective mass as well as to the onset of instabilities as density increases. This last point had led us to a systematic study of instabilities of infinite matter with effective Skyrme-type interactions. We have shown that for such interactions there is always a critical density, above which the system becomes unstable.

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arXiv2002

Continuum HFB calculations with finite range pairing interactions

A new method of calculating pairing correlations in coordinate space with finite range interactions is presented. In the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approach the mean field part is derived from a Skyrme-type force whereas the pairing field is constructed with a Gogny force. An iterative scheme is used for solving the integro-differential HFB equations via the introduction of a local equivalent potential. The method is illustrated on the case of the nucleus $^{18}$C. It is shown that the results are insensitive to the cut off value in the quasiparticle spectrum if this value is above 100 MeV.

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arXiv2001

Charged-current neutrino-208Pb reactions

We present theoretical results on the non flux-averaged $^{208}Pb(ν_{e},e^-)^{208}Bi$ and $^{208}Pb(ν_μ,μ^-)^{208}Bi$ reaction cross sections, obtained within the charge-exchange Random-Phase-Approximation. A detailed knowledge of these cross sections is important in different contexts. In particular, it is necessary to assess the possibility of using lead as a detector in future experiments on supernova neutrinos, such as OMNIS and LAND, and eventually detect neutrino oscillation signals by exploiting the spectroscopic properties of $^{208}Bi$. We discuss the present status on the theoretical predictions of the reaction cross sections.

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arXiv2001

Neutrino propagation in Neutron Matter and the Nuclear Equation of State

We study the propagation of neutrinos inside dense matter under the conditions prevailing in a proto-neutron star. Equations of state obtained with different nuclear effective interactions (Skyrme type and Gogny type) are first discussed. It is found that for many interactions, spin and/or isospin instabilities occur at densities larger than the saturation density of nuclear matter. From this study we select two representative interactions, SLy230b and D1P. We calculate the response functions in pure neutron matter where nuclear correlations are described at the Hartree-Fock plus RPA level. These response functions allow us to evaluate neutrino mean free paths corresponding to neutral current processes.

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arXiv2000

Treatment of pairing correlations in nuclei close to drip lines

We discuss the HFB equations in coordinate representation,a suitable method for handling the full effects of the continuous quasiparticle spectrum. We show how the continuum HFB equations can be solved with the correct asymptotic conditions instead of the discretization conditions which are commonly used in the literature. The continuum HFB method is illustrated with a model where the mean field and pairing field have simple forms. The relationship with the continuum Hartree-Fock-BCS (HF-BCS) approximation is also discussed. Realistic HFB and HF-BCS calculations based on Skyrme interactions are compared for the case of a neutron-rich nucleus.

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