arXiv subjects

Naftali Auerbach

Publications and source records attributed to Naftali Auerbach.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Long-lived opposite-parity states and the onset of octupole collectivity in atomic nuclei

Octupole deformation in atomic nuclei is of interest for both nuclear structure and precision tests of fundamental symmetries, but identifying regions of octupole collectivity remains challenging. We analyze low-energy spectra of odd-mass nuclei and uncover a previously unrecognized empirical regularity that serves as a signature of octupole collectivity in neighboring even-even systems. The observed patterns, which can be understood within a core-coupling picture, are consistent with previous theoretical studies and lead to predictions for neutron-rich and proton-deficient nuclei. These findings provide a simple empirical guide for identifying promising candidates for future experiments and microscopic calculations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Pairing Strength and Quadrupole-Soft Tin Isotopes

Background: Understanding the experimental $B(E2)$ values for Sn isotopes around $^{110}$Sn has been a significant challenge in nuclear structure studies for over a decade. Both experimental data and many, though not all, calculations suggest a picture of the light Sn isotopes as being quadrupole-soft, that is, spherical, yet easy to deform. Purpose: To investigate the delicate interplay of quadrupole deformation and pairing correlations in these nuclides. In particular, by using slightly enhanced pairing, we ask: can we generate spherical mean-field solutions that describe the data? Method: First, we apply the standard spherical Skyrme HFBCS-QRPA calculation with default pairing parameters, allowing us to identify nuclides that are unstable against quadrupole deformation among Sn isotopes. Next, we moderately enhance the pairing strength to reproduce the experimental binding energy in the deformation-unstable isotopes. Result: Within our choice of Skyrme parameters and use of density-independent pairing, this moderate adjustment sufficiently stabilizes the HFBCS ground states against deformation, ensuring a successful QRPA calculation and, more importantly, leading to more realistic properties for the quadrupole $2^+$ states. Conclusion: Careful attention to the sensitive interplay of pairing and shell effects in deformation-soft nuclides can be crucial to their correct descriptions. This sensitivity can be exploited to optimize the treatment of pairing in phenomenological approaches such as the present Skyrme-QRPA.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2024

Landscape of nuclear deformation softness with spherical quasi-particle random phase approximation

We investigate the stability and softness of nuclei against quadrupole, octupole, and hexadecapole deformation. By applying the spherical Skyrme-force Hartree-Fock Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer quasi-particle random phase approximation, we diagnose ground-state deformation when imaginary solutions are obtained, i.e., the spherical ground state {\em collapses}. We also calculate the multipole polarizability in spherical nuclei with no collapse, as a measure of softness. This numerically light and theoretically sound method is found able to capture deformation patterns across the nuclide chart. The connection between the intrinsic shape of nuclei and the dynamics of their low-lying collective states is established and the role of shell structure is discussed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Origin of octupole deformation softness in atomic nuclei

Recent high-energy heavy ion collision experiments have revealed that some atomic nuclei exhibit unusual softness and significant shape fluctuations. In this work, we use the fully self-consistent mean-field theory to identify all even-even nuclei that are unstable or soft against octupole deformation. All exceptional cases of enhanced octupole transition strengths in stable even-even nuclei throughout the nuclide chart are resolved and the origin is found in basic shell structure. The presence of atomic nuclei exhibiting significant softness to quadrupole-octupole deformation is suggested. These results represent a significant advance in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of nuclear octupole deformation and have implications for further experimental and theoretical studies.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Coulomb corrections to Fermi beta decay in nuclei

We study the influence of the Coulomb force on the Fermi beta-decays in nuclei. This work is composed of two main parts. In the first part, we calculate the Coulomb corrections to super-allowed beta decay. We use the notion of the isovector monopole state and the self-consistent charge-exchange Random Phase Approximation to compute the correction. In the second part of this work, we examine the influence of the anti-analog state on isospin mixing in the isobaric analog state and the correction to the beta-decay Fermi transition.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Single-particle properties of the near-threshold proton-emitting resonance in $^{11}$B

The excitation function of proton elastic scattering from $^{10}$Be at keV energy is calculated using the self-consistent Skyrme Hartree-Fock in the continuum method. The calculation successfully reproduces the narrow near-threshold proton-emitting resonance ($E_x = 11.4$ MeV, $Γ= 6$ keV, and quantum number $J^π = 1/2^+$) in $^{11}$B relevant to the $β$-delayed proton emission of $^{11}$Be. This supports the recent experimental result of Y. Ayyad \textit{et al.} at the ReA3 re-accelerator facility of the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at the Michigan State University. The resonance is interpreted as the $s_{1/2}$ single-proton resonance state in the Skyrme Hartree-Fock mean-field theory.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2020

From bound states to the continuum

This white paper reports on the discussions of the 2018 Facility for Rare Isotope Beams Theory Alliance (FRIB-TA) topical program "From bound states to the continuum: Connecting bound state calculations with scattering and reaction theory". One of the biggest and most important frontiers in nuclear theory today is to construct better and stronger bridges between bound state calculations and calculations in the continuum, especially scattering and reaction theory, as well as teasing out the influence of the continuum on states near threshold. This is particularly challenging as many-body structure calculations typically use a bound state basis, while reaction calculations more commonly utilize few-body continuum approaches. The many-body bound state and few-body continuum methods use different language and emphasize different properties. To build better foundations for these bridges, we present an overview of several bound state and continuum methods and, where possible, point to current and possible future connections.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2018

Study of the double Gamow-Teller transitions using the shell model approach

The double Gamow-Teller strength distributions in the lightest double beta-decay candidate $^{48}$Ca and its isotope $^{46}$Ca were calculated using the nuclear shell model by applying the single Gamow-Teller operator two times sequentially on the ground state of parent nucleus. The nuclear matrix element of the double Gamow-Teller transition from the ground state to the ground state that goes into the double beta decay calculation was shown as a small fraction of the total transition.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2018

Isospin mixing and Coulomb mixing in ground states of even-even nuclei

In this work, the Coulomb mixing and the isospin mixing in the ground states of even-even nuclei are evaluated in perturbation theory. The calculation of the isospin mixing is performed by using the connection to isovector monopole resonance properties. The uncertainty in the results that depends on different choices of the Skyrme interactions is shown. While Coulomb mixing turns out to be large in the ground states of heavy nuclei, isospin mixing is very small.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Nuclear Structure Features of Gamow-Teller Excitations

It is widely accepted that nuclear Gamow-Teller transitions are quenched; shell-model calculations also showed a clear anticorrelation between the Gamow-Teller strength and the transition rate of the collective quadrupole excitation from the ground state. We discuss the physics beyond this observation. It is based on the existence of spin-orbit coupling that is responsible for the non-zero probabilities of Gamow-Teller transitions in self-conjugate nuclei (N = Z). The shell-model calculations in the f p-space demonstrate the effects of the gradual artificial removal of the spin-orbit coupling that influences Gamow-Teller and quadrupole modes in opposite way. The realistic spin-orbit splitting moves the cumulative Gamow-Teller strength up and leads to stronger fragmentation; both trends are discussed in terms of simple symmetry arguments. Along with this process, the Gamow-Teller operator excites, in addition to the main line of L = 0 states, states with L = 2 which should be added, with the interference terms, to account for the total strength.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2017

Single Charge-Exchange Reactions and the Neutron Density at the Surface of the Nucleus

In this work we study the charge-exchange reaction to Isobaric Analog State using two types of transition densities. We show that for projectiles that do not probe the interior of the nucleus but mostly the surface of this nucleus, distinct differences in the cross-section arise when the two types of transition densities are employed. We demonstrate this by considering the (3He,t) reaction.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Dipole resonances and the nuclear Schiff moment

The nuclear Schiff moment creates a mechanism of transfer of the violation of parity and time-reversal invariance by weak interaction in nuclei into the atomic electric dipole moment. We point out an additional contribution to the Schiff moment generated by the mixing of single-particle states through the low-lying nuclear dipole resonances. An estimate shows that this contribution is by order of magnitude comparable to single-particle contributions and can be enhanced if the low-lying resonance has collective nature.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

Super-Radiant Dynamics, Doorways, and Resonances in Nuclei and Other Open Mesoscopic Systems

The phenomenon of super-radiance (Dicke effect, coherent spontaneous radiation by a gas of atoms coupled through the common radiation field) is well known in quantum optics. The review discusses similar physics that emerges in open and marginally stable quantum many-body systems. In the presence of open decay channels, the intrinsic states are coupled through the continuum. At sufficiently strong continuum coupling, the spectrum of resonances undergoes the restructuring with segregation of very broad super-radiant states and trapping of remaining long-lived compound states. The appropriate formalism describing this phenomenon is based on the Feshbach projection method and effective non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. A broader generalization is related to the idea of doorway states connecting quantum states of different structure. The method is explained in detail and the examples of applications are given to nuclear, atomic and particle physics. The interrelation of the collective dynamics through continuum and possible intrinsic many-body chaos is studied, including universal mesoscopic conductance fluctuations. The theory serves as a natural framework for general description of a quantum signal transmission through an open mesoscopic system.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Nuclear Structure and the Search for Collective Enhancement of P,T-Violation

The discovery of the atomic electric dipole moment (EDM) would reveal the simultaneous violation of parity (P) and time-reversal (T) invariance. The EDM can be induced by T-odd forces between the nucleus and atomic electrons. As the nuclear dipole moment is screened according to the Schiff theorem, the appropriate nuclear operator is the Schiff moment that may exist in nuclei under PT-violation. We briefly review the current experimental situation and discuss more in detail the ideas concerning possible collective mechanisms for the enhancement of the nuclear Schiff moment. The most promising directions are related to the coexistence of octupole and quadrupole collective modes, either in the form of static deformation or as soft vibrational excitations. The search for enhancement is important for widening the pool of nuclei as candidates for the atomic EDM as well as for development of nuclear many-body theory beyond standard mean-field and random phase approximations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2008

Nuclear Schiff moment and soft vibrational modes

The atomic electric dipole moment (EDM) currently searched by a number of experimental groups requires that both parity and time-reversal invariance be violated. According to current theoretical understanding, the EDM is induced by the nuclear Schiff moment. The enhancement of the Schiff moment by the combination of static quadrupole and octupole deformation was predicted earlier. Here we study a further idea of the possible enhancement in the absence of static deformation but in a nuclear system with soft collective vibrations of two types. Both analytical approximation and numerical solution of the simplified problem confirm the presence of the enhancement. We discuss related aspects of nuclear structure which should be studied beyond mean-field and random phase approximations.

nucl-th↗