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R. Machleidt

Publications and source records attributed to R. Machleidt.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2015

Peripheral nucleon-nucleon scattering at fifth order of chiral perturbation theory

We present the two- and three-pion exchange contributions to the nucleon-nucleon interaction which occur at next-to-next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N4LO, fifth order) of chiral effective field theory, and calculate nucleon-nucleon scattering in peripheral partial waves with L>=3 using low-energy constants that were extracted from pi-N analysis at fourth order. While the net three-pion exchange contribution is moderate, the two-pion exchanges turn out to be sizeable and prevailingly repulsive, thus, compensating the excessive attraction characteristic for NNLO and N3LO. As a result, the N4LO predictions for the phase shifts of peripheral partial waves are in very good agreement with the data (with the only exception of the 1F3 wave). We also discuss the issue of the order-by-order convergence of the chiral expansion for the NN interaction.

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arXiv2014

Muon capture on deuteron and the neutron-neutron scattering length

We study the capture rate in the doublet hyperfine initial state for the muon capture reaction $μ^- + \,^2{\rm H} \rightarrow ν_μ+ n + n$ ($Γ^D$) and the total capture rate for the reaction $ μ^- + \,^3{\rm He} \rightarrow ν_μ+ \,^3{\rm H}$ ($Γ_0$). We investigate whether $Γ^D$ and $Γ_0$ could be sensitive to the $nn$ $S$-wave scattering length ($a_{nn}$). To this aim, we consider nuclear potentials and weak currents derived within $χ$EFT. We employ the N3LO chiral potential with cutoff $Λ$=500 MeV, but the low-energy constant (LEC) determining $a_{nn}$ is varied so as to obtain $a_{nn}$=-18.95 (the present empirical value), -16.0, -22.0, and +18.22 fm. The last value leads to a $nn$ bound state with a binding energy of 139 keV. The LECs $c_D$ and $c_E$, present in the three-nucleon potential and axial-vector current, are fitted to reproduce the $A=3$ binding energies and the triton Gamow-Teller matrix element. The capture rate $Γ^D$ is found to be 399(3) s$^{-1}$ for $a_{nn}$=-18.95 and -16.0 fm; and 400(3) s$^{-1}$ for $a_{nn}$=-22.0 fm. For $a_{nn}$=+18.22 fm, we obtain 275(3) s$^{-1}$ (135(3) s$^{-1}$), when the final $nn$ system is unbound (bound). The rate $Γ_0$ is found to be 1494(15), 1491(16), 1488(18), and 1475(16) s$^{-1}$ for $a_{nn}$=-18.95, -16.0, -22.0, and +18.22 fm, respectively. The theoretical uncertainties are due to the fitting procedure and radiative corrections. Our results seem to exclude the possibility of constraining a negative $a_{nn}$ with an uncertainty of less than $\sim \pm$ 3 fm through an accurate determination of the muon capture rates, but the uncertainty on the present empirical value will not complicate the interpretation of the (forth-coming) experimental results for $Γ^D$. Finally, a comparison with the already available experimental data discourages the possibility of a bound $nn$ state.

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arXiv2014

Statistical uncertainties of a chiral interaction at next-to-next-to leading order

We have quantified the statistical uncertainties of the low-energy coupling-constants (LECs) of an optimized nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction from chiral effective field theory ($χ$EFT) at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO). In addition, we have propagated the impact of the uncertainties of the LECs to two-nucleon scattering phase shifts, effective range parameters, and deuteron observables.

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arXiv2014

The nuclear matter equation of state with consistent two- and three-body perturbative chiral interactions

We compute the energy per particle of infinite symmetric nuclear matter from chiral N3LO (next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order) two-body potentials plus N2LO three-body forces. The low-energy constants of the chiral three-nucleon force that cannot be constrained by two-body observables are fitted to reproduce the triton binding energy and the 3H-3He Gamow-Teller transition matrix element. In this way, the saturation properties of nuclear matter are reproduced in a parameter-free approach. The equation of state is computed up to third order in many-body perturbation theory, with special emphasis on the role of the third-order particle-hole diagram. The dependence of these results on the cutoff scale and regulator function is studied. We find that the inclusion of three-nucleon forces consistent with the applied two-nucleon interaction leads to a reduced dependence on the choice of the regulator only for lower values of the cutoff.

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arXiv2014

Study of nucleonic matter with a consistent two- and three-body perturbative chiral interaction

We calculate perturbatively the energy per nucleon in infinite nuclear matter with a chiral N3LO (next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order) two-body potential plus a N2LO three-body force (3BF). The 3BF low-energy constants which cannot be constrained by two-body observables are chosen such as to reproduce the A=3 binding energies and the triton Gamow-Teller matrix element. This enables to study the nuclear matter equation of state in a parameter-free approach.

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arXiv2013

Nonperturbative renormalization of the chiral nucleon-nucleon interaction up to next-to-next-to-leading order

We study the nonperturbative renormalization of the nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction at next-to-leading order (NLO) and next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) of chiral effective field theory. A systematic variation of the cutoff parameter is performed for values below the chiral symmetry breaking scale of about 1 GeV. The accuracy of the predictions is determined by calculating the $χ^2$ for the reproduction of the NN data for energy intervals below pion-production threshold. At NLO, the NN data are described well up to about 100 MeV laboratory energy and, at NNLO, up to about 200 MeV---with, essentially, cutoff independence for cutoffs between about 450 and 850 MeV.

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arXiv2013

Origin and properties of strong inter-nucleon interactions

I start with a historical review of the attempts to construct theories for the origin of nuclear forces, for which I also summaries the most important properties. The review then shifts to its main focus, which is the chiral effective field theory approach to nuclear forces. I summarize the current status of this approach and discuss the most important open issues: the proper renormalization of the chiral two-nucleon potential and sub-leading three-nucleon forces.

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arXiv2013

Half-Skyrmions and the Equation of State for Compact-Star Matter

The half-skyrmions that appear in dense baryonic matter when skyrmions are put on crystals modify drastically hadron properties in dense medium and affect strongly the nuclear tensor forces, thereby influencing the equation of state (EoS) of dense nuclear and asymmetric nuclear matter. The matter comprised of half skyrmions has vanishing quark condensate but non-vanishing pion decay constant and could be interpreted as a hadronic dual of strong-coupled quark matter. We infer from this observation combined with certain predictions of hidden local symmetry in low-energy hadronic interactionsa a set of new scaling laws -- called "new-BR" -- for the parameters in nuclear effective field theory controlled by renormalization-group flow. They are subjected to the EoS of symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter, and are then applied to nuclear symmetry energies and properties of compact stars. The changeover from the skyrmion matter to a half-skyrmion matter that takes place after the cross-over density $n_{1/2}$ provides a simple and natural field theoretic explanation for the change of the EoS from soft to stiff at a density above that of nuclear matter required for compact stars as massive as $\sim 2.4M_\odot$. Cross-over density in the range $1.5n_0 \lsim n_{1/2} \lsim 2.0 n_0$ has been employed, and the possible skyrmion half-skyrmion coexistence {or cross-over} near $n_{1/2}$ is discussed. The novel structure of {the tensor forces and} the EoS obtained with the new-BR scaling is relevant for neutron-rich nuclei and compact star matter and could be studied in RIB (rare isotope beam) machines.

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arXiv2013

An optimized chiral nucleon-nucleon interaction at next-to-next-to-leading order

We optimize the nucleon-nucleon interaction from chiral effective field theory at next-to-next- to-leading order. The resulting new chiral force NNLOopt yields χ^2 \approx 1 per degree of freedom for laboratory energies below approximately 125 MeV. In the A = 3, 4 nucleon systems, the contributions of three-nucleon forces are smaller than for previous parametrizations of chiral interactions. We use NNLOopt to study properties of key nuclei and neutron matter, and demonstrate that many aspects of nuclear structure can be understood in terms of this nucleon-nucleon interaction, without explicitly invoking three-nucleon forces.

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arXiv2013

Reduced regulator dependence of neutron-matter predictions with chiral interactions

We calculate the energy per particle in infinite neutron matter perturbatively using chiral N3LO two-body potentials plus N2LO three-body forces. The cutoff dependence of the predictions is investigated by employing chiral interactions with different regulators. We find that the inclusion of three-nucleon forces, which are consistent with the applied two-nucleon interaction, leads to a strongly reduced regulator dependence of the results.

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arXiv2012

Recent Progress in the Theory of Nuclear Forces

During the past two decades, it has been demonstrated that chiral effective field theory represents a powerful tool to deal with nuclear forces in a systematic and model-independent way. Two-, three-, and four-nucleon forces have been derived up to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N3LO) and (partially) applied in nuclear few- and many-body systems---with, in general, a good deal of success. This may suggest that we are finally done with the nuclear force problem; but that would be too optimistic. There are still some pretty basic open issues that have been swept under rug and, finally, need our full attention, like the proper renormalization of the two-nucleon potential. Moreover, the order-by-order convergence of the many-body force contributions is at best obscure at this time.

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arXiv2012

Dirac-Brueckner-Hartree-Fock versus chiral effective field theory

We compare nuclear and neutron matter predictions based on two different ab initio approaches to nuclear forces and the nuclear many-body problem. The first consists of a realistic meson-theoretic nucleon-nucleon potential together with the relativistic counterpart of the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock theory of nuclear matter. The second is based on chiral effective field theory, with density-dependent interactions derived from leading order chiral three-nucleon forces. We find the results to be very close and conclude that both approaches contain important features governing the physics of nuclear and neutron matter.

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arXiv2012

Infinite-cutoff renormalization of the chiral nucleon-nucleon interaction at N3LO

Naively, the "best" method of renormalization is the one where a momentum cutoff is taken to infinity while maintaining stable results due to a cutoff-dependent adjustment of counterterms. We have applied this renormalization method in the non-perturbative calculation of phase-shifts for nucleon-nucleon (NN) scattering using chiral NN potentials up to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N3LO). For lower partial waves, we find that there is either no convergence with increasing order or, if convergence occurs, the results do not always converge to the empirical values. For higher partial waves, we always observe convergence to the empirical phase shifts (except for the 3G5 state). Furthermore, no matter what the order is, one can use only one or no counterterm per partial wave, creating a rather erratic scheme of power counting that does not allow for a systematic order-by-order improvement of the predictions. The conclusion is that infinite-cutoff renormalization is inappropriate for chiral NN interactions, which should not come as a surprise, since the chiral effective field theory, these interactions are based upon, is designed for momenta below the chiral-symmetry breaking scale of about 1 GeV. Therefore, this value for the hard scale should also be perceived as the appropriate upper limit for the momentum cutoff.

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arXiv2012

Evolution of shell structure in neutron-rich calcium isotopes

We employ interactions from chiral effective field theory and compute the binding energies and low-lying excitations of calcium isotopes with the coupled-cluster method. Effects of three-nucleon forces are included phenomenologically as in-medium two-nucleon interactions, and the coupling to the particle continuum is taken into account using a Berggren basis. The computed ground-state energies and the low-lying 2+ states for the isotopes 42,48,50,52Ca are in good agreement with data, and we predict the excitation energy of the first 2+ state in 54Ca at 1.9 MeV, displaying only a weak sub-shell closure. In the odd-mass nuclei 53,55,61Ca we find that the positive parity states deviate strongly from the naive shell model.

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arXiv2012

Continuum effects and three-nucleon forces in neutron-rich oxygen isotopes

We employ interactions from chiral effective field theory and compute binding energies, excited states, and radii for isotopes of oxygen with the coupled-cluster method. Our calculation includes the effects of three-nucleon forces and of the particle continuum, both of which are important for the description of neutron-rich isotopes in the vicinity of the nucleus O-24. Our main results are the placement of the neutron drip-line at O-24, the assignment of spins, parities and resonance widths for several low-lying states of the drip-line nucleus, and an efficient approximation that incorporates the effects of three-body interactions.

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arXiv2012

Calculation of Doublet Capture Rate for Muon Capture in Deuterium within Chiral Effective Field Theory

The doublet capture rate of the negative muon capture in deuterium is calculated employing the nuclear wave functions generated from accurate nucleon-nucleon potentials constructed at next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order of heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory and the weak meson exchange current operator derived within the same formalism. All but one of the low-energy constants that enter the calculation were fixed from pion-nucleon and nucleon-nucleon scattering data. The low-energy constant d^R (c_D), which cannot be determined from the purely two-nucleon data, was extracted recently from the triton beta-decay and the binding energies of the three-nucleon systems. The calculated values of the doublet capture rates show a rather large spread for the used values of the d^R. Precise measurement of the doublet capture rate in the future will not only help to constrain the value of d^R, but also provide a highly nontrivial test of the nuclear chiral EFT framework. Besides, the precise knowledge of the constant d^R will allow for consistent calculations of other two-nucleon weak processes, such as proton-proton fusion and solar neutrino scattering on deuterons, which are important for astrophysics.

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arXiv2011

Chiral effective field theory and nuclear forces

We review how nuclear forces emerge from low-energy QCD via chiral effective field theory. The presentation is accessible to the non-specialist. At the same time, we also provide considerable detailed information (mostly in appendices) for the benefit of researchers who wish to start working in this field.

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