Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Ph. Chomaz

Publications and source records attributed to Ph. Chomaz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2010

Probing pre-formed alpha particles in the ground state of nuclei

In this Letter, we report on alpha particle emission through the nuclear break-up in the reaction 40Ca on a 40Ca target at 50A MeV. It is observed that, similarly to nucleons, alpha particles can be emitted to the continuum with very specific angular distribution during the reaction. The alpha particle properties can be understood as resulting from an alpha cluster in the daughter nucleus that is perturbed by the short range nuclear attraction of the collision partner and emitted. A time-dependent theory that describe the alpha particle wave-function evolution is able to reproduce qualitatively the observed angular distribution. This mechanism offers new possibilities to study alpha particle properties in the nuclear medium.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2009

From energy-density functionals to mean field potentials: a systematic derivation

In this paper we present a systematic method to solve the variational problem of the derivation of a self-consistent Kohn-Sham field from an arbitrary local energy functional. We illustrate this formalism with an application in nuclear physics and give the general mean field associated to the widely used Skyrme effective interaction.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2008

Cluster formation in asymmetric nuclear matter: semi-classical and quantal approaches

The nuclear-matter liquid-gas phase transition induces instabilities against finite-size density fluctuations. This has implications for both heavy-ion-collision and compact-star physics. In this paper, we study the clusterization properties of nuclear matter in a scenario of spinodal decomposition, comparing three different approaches: the quantal RPA, its semi-classical limit (Vlasov method), and a hydrodynamical framework. The predictions related to clusterization are qualitatively in good agreement varying the approach and the nuclear interaction. Nevertheless, it is shown that i) the quantum effects reduce the instability zone, and disfavor short-wavelength fluctuations; ii) large differences appear bewteen the two semi-classical approaches, which correspond respectively to a collisionless (Vlasov) and local equilibrium description (hydrodynamics); iii) the isospin-distillation effect is stronger in the local equilibrium framework; iv) important variations between the predicted time-scales of cluster formation appear near the borders of the instability region.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2008

A new approach to solve the Boltzmann-Langevin equation for fermionic systems

We present a new method to introduce phase-space fluctuations in transport theories, corresponding to a full implementation of the Boltzmann-Langevin equation for fermionic systems. It is based on the procedure originally developed by Bauer et al. for transport codes employing the test particle method. In the new procedure, the Pauli principle is carefully checked, leading to a good reproduction of the correct fluctuations in the ``continuum limit'' ($h \to 0$). Accurate tests are carried out in one and two dimensional idealized systems, and finally results for a full 3D application are shown. We stress the reliability of this method, which can be easily plugged into existing tranport codes using test particles, and its general applicability to systems characterized by instabilities, like for instance multifragmentation processes.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2007

Nuclear break-up of 11Be

The break-up of 11Be was studied at 41AMeV using a secondary beam of 11Be from the GANIL facility on a 48Ti target by measuring correlations between the 10Be core, the emitted neutrons and gamma rays. The nuclear break-up leading to the emission of a neutron at large angle in the laboratory frame is identified with the towing mode through its characteristic n-fragment correlation. The experimental spectra are compared with a model where the time dependent Schrodinger equation (TDSE) is solved for the neutron initially in the 11 Be. A good agreement is found between experiment and theory for the shapes of neutron experimental energies and angular distributions. The spectroscopic factor of the 2s orbital is tentatively extracted to be 0.46+-0.15. The neutron emission from the 1p and 1d orbitals is also studied.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2007

Probing the nuclear EOS with fragment production

We discuss fragmentation mechanisms and isospin transport occurring in central collisions between neutron rich systems at Fermi energies. In particular, isospin effects are analyzed looking at the correlations between fragment isotopic content and kinematical properties. Simulations are based on an approximate solution of the Boltzmann-Langevin (BL) equation. An attempt to solve the complete BL equation, by introducing full fluctuations in phase space is also discussed.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2007

Ising analogue to compact-star matter

By constructing an Ising analogue of compact-star matter at sub-saturation density we explored the effect of Coulomb frustration on the nuclear liquid-gas phase transition. Our conclusions is twofold. First, the range of temperatures where inhomogeneous phases form expands with increasing Coulomb-field strength. Second, within the approximation of uniform electron distribution, the limiting point upon which the phase-coexistence region ends does not exhibit any critical behaviour. Possible astrophysics consequences and thermodynamical connections are discussed.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2007

Low density expansion and isospin dependence of nuclear energy functional: comparison between relativistic and Skyrme models

In the present work we take the non relativistic limit of relativistic models and compare the obtained functionals with the usual Skyrme parametrization. Relativistic models with both constant couplings and with density dependent couplings are considered. While some models present very good results already at the lowest order in the density, models with non-linear terms only reproduce the energy functional if higher order terms are taken into account in the expansion.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2006

Microscopic calculations of double and triple Giant Resonance excitation in heavy ion collisions

We perform microscopic calculations of the inelastic cross sections for the double and triple excitation of giant resonances induced by heavy ion probes within a semicalssical coupled channels formalism. The channels are defined as eigenstates of a bosonic quartic Hamiltonian constructed in terms of collective RPA phonons. Therefore, they are superpositions of several multiphonon states, also with different numbers of phonons and the spectrum is anharmonic. The inclusion of (n+1) phonon configurations affects the states whose main component is a n-phonon one and leads to an appreacible lowering of their energies. We check the effects of such further anharmonicities on the previous published results for the cross section for the double excitation of Giant Resonances. We find that the only effect is a shift of the peaks towards lower energies, the double GR cross section being not modified by the explicity inclusion of the three-phonon channels in the dynamical calculations. The latters give an important contribution to the cross section in the triple GR energy region which however is still smaller than the experimental available data. The inclusion of four phonon configurations in the structure calculations does not modify the results.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2006

Effect of electronic environment on neutrino-nucleus reactions at r-process sites

We discuss effects of the electron plasma on charged-current neutrino-nucleus reaction, $(ν_e,e^-)$ in a core-collapse supernova environment. We first discuss the electron screening effect on the final state interaction between the outgoing electron and the daughter nucleus. To this end, we solve the Dirac equation for the outgoing electron with the screened Coulomb potential obtained with the Thomas-Fermi approximation. In addition to the screening effect, we also discuss the Pauli blocking effect due to the environmental electrons on the spectrum of the outgoing electron. We find that both effects hinder the cross section of the charged-current reaction, especially at low incident energies.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2006

Collective modes in relativistic npe matter at finite temperature

Isospin and density waves in neutral neutron-proton-electron (npe) matter are studied within a relativistic mean-field hadron model at finite temperature with the inclusion of the electromagnetic field. The dispersion relation is calculated and the collective modes are obtained. The unstable modes are discussed and the spinodals, which separate the stable from the unstable regions, are shown for different values of the momentum transfer at various temperatures. The critical temperatures are compared with the ones obtained in a system without electrons. The largest critical temperature, 12.39 MeV, occurs for a proton fraction y_p=0.47. For y_p=0.3 we get $T_{cr}$ =5 MeV and for y_p>0.495 $T_cr\lesssim 8$ MeV. It is shown that at finite temperature the distillation effect in asymmetric matter is not so efficient and that electron effects are particularly important for small momentum transfers.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2005

Tracking energy fluctuations from fragment partitions in the Lattice Gas model

Partial energy fluctuations are known tools to reconstruct microcanonical heat capacities. For experimental applications, approximations have been developed to infer fluctuations at freeze out from the observed fragment partitions. The accuracy of this procedure as well as the underlying independent fragment approximation is under debate already at the level of equilibrated systems. Using a well controlled computer experiment, the Lattice Gas model, we critically discuss the thermodynamic conditions under which fragment partitions can be used to reconstruct the thermodynamics of an equilibrated system.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2005

Information theory of open fragmenting systems

An information theory description of finite systems explicitly evolving in time is presented. We impose a MaxEnt variational principle on the Shannon entropy at a given time while the constraints are set at a former time. The resulting density matrix contains explicit time odd components in the form of collective flows. As a specific application we consider the dynamics of the expansion in connection with heavy ion experiments. Lattice gas and classical molecular dynamics simulations are shown.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2005

Isospin coupling in time-dependent-mean-field theories and decay of isovector excitations

We show that isospin non-diagonal terms should appear in the mean field Hamiltonian when neutron-proton symmetry is broken. They give rise to charge mixing in the single-particle wave-functions. We study the Time Dependent Hartree-Fock response of a charge-exchange excitation which generates a charge mixing in Ca isotopes. We find an enhancement of the low energy proton emission in neutron-rich isotopes interpreted in terms of a charge oscillation below the barrier.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2004

The nuclear liquid gas phase transition and phase coexistence: A review

In this talk we will review the different signals of liquid gas phase transition in nuclei. From the theoretical side we will first discuss the foundations of the concept of equilibrium, phase transition and critical behaviors in infinite and finite systems. From the experimental point of view we will first recall the evidences for some strong modification of the behavior of hot nuclei. Then we will review quantitative detailed analysis aiming to evidence phase transition, to define its order and phase diagram. Finally, we will present a critical discussion of the present status of phase transitions in nuclei and we will draw some lines for future development of this field.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv2004

Correlations in mesoscopic magnetic systems

The purpose of this proposal is to study the ferro/para phase transition in a mesoscopic Ising-like lattice and in particular demonstrate the existence of a negative magnetic susceptibility in the fixed magnetization ensemble. To this aim we will use the correlation < S(r) S(r+Dr) > = < M2>/N2 where N is the total number of spins for a single cluster, M the total magnetization of the cluster, and the equality holds if we choose r0<Dr<R where r0 is the linear size of a spin site and R is the linear size of a cluster.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2004

Phase Transition in Small System

Everybody knows that when a liquid is heated, its temperature increases until the moment when it starts to boil. The increase in temperature then stops, all heat being used to transform the liquid into vapor. What is the microscopic origin of such a strange behavior? Does a liquid drop containing only few molecules behave the same? Recent experimental and theoretical developments seem to indicate that at the elementary level of very small systems, this anomaly appears in an even more astonishing way: during the change of state - for example from liquid to gas - the system cools whereas it is heated, i.e. its temperature decreases while its energy increases. This paper presents a review of our understanding of the negative specific heat phenomenon.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗