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R. Rodríguez-Guzmán

Publications and source records attributed to R. Rodríguez-Guzmán.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stability of intruder-driven quadrupole and hexadecapole deformation effects in Xenon, Barium, Cerium and Neodymium isotopes

Two-dimensional Generator Coordinate Method calculations for the axial quadrupole $β_{2}$ and hexadecapole $β_{4}$ collective deformations are carried out with the Gogny force in a series of Xe, Ba, Ce and Nd isotopes with neutron numbers covering both magic neutron shell closures N=82 and N=126. The underlying mean-field configurations are used to characterize the expected dynamic behavior of the system. Two regions of strong coupling between the quadrupole and hexadecapole degrees of freedom are found and characterized. Quantum fluctuations soften the mean-field ground state values of $β_{2}$ and $β_{4}$ in transitional regions. The ground state correlation energy coming from $β_{4}$ is comparable in size to the one coming from $β_{2}$, and both together amount to a sizable 1.5 MeV. Shape coexistence in some isotopes and its impact in the excitation energy of the first excited state is analysed. Finally, the role of a second intruder orbital in the explanation of the large deformation parameters of some nuclei in the region is discussed.

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Microscopic description of cluster radioactivity fission valleys along isotopic and isotonic chains

Cluster radioactivity has been successfully described as a super-asymmetric fission mode within the microscopic self-consistent Gogny Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation [Phys. Rev. C 84, 044608 (2011)]. For nuclei preserving the neutron-to-proton $N/Z$ ratio of the doubly magic $^{208}$Pb, a cluster radioactivity fission valley has been identified. Such a valley can also be found both in actinides and super-heavy nuclei. In this paper, chains of isotopes and isotones are examined to determine the limits of existence of the cluster radioactivity fission mode. It is shown that the super-asymmetric valley can be found in a wide range of the nuclear chart. Nevertheless, the valley flattens more and more when diverging from the isospin asymmetry of $^{208}$Pb. For neutron-deficient nuclei with $N/Z <$ 1.41, it is found that the valley diminishes before reaching the scission point, and cluster radioactivity can not be observed.

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Quadrupole-hexadecapole correlations in neutron-rich samarium and gadolinium isotopes

We present an extensive study of quadrupole-hexadecapole correlation effects in even-even Sm and Gd isotopes with neutron number $N=88-106$. The calculations are performed in the framework of the Gogny energy density functional (EDF) with the D1S parametrization and the $sdg$ interacting boson model (IBM). The quadrupole-hexadecapole constrained self-consistent mean-field potential energy surface is mapped onto the expectation value of the $sdg$-boson Hamiltonian. This procedure determines the parameters of the $sdg$-IBM Hamiltonian microscopically. Calculated excitation energies and transition strengths are compared to the ones obtained with a simpler $sd$-IBM, as well as with the experimental data. The Gogny-EDF mapped $sdg$-IBM reproduces spectroscopic properties of the studied nuclei as reasonably as in the case of the previous $sdg$-boson mapping calculations that were based on the relativistic EDF, indicating that the axial quadrupole-hexadecapole method is sound regardless of whether relativistic or nonrelativistic EDF is employed. The mapped $sdg$-IBM improves some of the results in lighter Sm and Gd isotopes compared to the mapped $sd$-IBM, implying the existence of significant hexadecapole correlations in those nuclei. For those nuclei with $N \geq 94$, hexadecapole effects are minor, and the only significant difference between the two boson models can be found in the description of $E0$ monopole transitions.

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Microscopic description of spontaneous fission based on a Gogny energy density functional including tensor contributions

This paper extends previous studies on the impact of tensor forces in fission dynamics of neutron-deficient Thorium isotopes to other isotopic chains of heavy actinides and low-mass super-heavy nuclei. Calculations are carried out within a mean-field framework based on the Gogny-D1S parametrization supplemented with the D1ST2a perturbative tensor term as driving force. Fission barrier heights and spontaneous fission half-lives are used as benchmarks to analyze the impact of the tensor term. A significant reduction of fission barrier heights and half-lives is associated to the tensor component of the force.

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Simultaneous description of $β$ decay and low-lying structure of neutron-rich even- and odd-mass Rh and Pd nuclei

The low-energy structure and $β$ decay properties of neutron-rich even- and odd-mass Pd and Rh nuclei are studied using a mapping framework based on the nuclear density functional theory and the particle-boson coupling scheme. Constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations using the Gogny-D1M energy density functional are performed to obtain microscopic inputs to determine the interacting-boson Hamiltonian employed to describe the even-even core Pd nuclei. The mean-field calculations also provide single-particle energies for the odd systems, which are used to determine essential ingredients of the particle-boson interactions for the odd-nucleon systems, and of the Gamow-Teller and Fermi transition operators. The potential energy surfaces obtained for even-even Pd isotopes as well as the spectroscopic properties for the even- and odd-mass systems suggest a transition from prolate deformed to $γ$-unstable and to nearly-spherical shapes. The predicted $β$ decay $\log{ft}$ values are shown to be sensitive to the details of the wave functions for the parent and daughter nuclei, and therefore serve as a stringent test of the employed theoretical approach.

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Calculation of molecular g-tensors by sampling spin orientations of generalised Hartree-Fock states

The variational inclusion of spin-orbit coupling in self-consistent field (SCF) calculations requires a generalised two-component framework, which permits the single-determinant wave function to completely break spin symmetry. The individual components of the molecular g-tensor are commonly obtained from separate SCF solutions that align the magnetic moment along one of the three principal tensor axes. However, this strategy raises the question if energy differences between solutions are relevant, or how convergence is achieved if the principal axis system is not determined by molecular symmetry. The present work resolves these issues by a simple two-step procedure akin to the generator coordinate method (GCM). First, a few generalised Hartree Fock (GHF) solutions are converged, applying, where needed, a constraint to the orientation of the magnetic-moment or spin vector. Then, superpositions of GHF determinants are formed through non-orthogonal configuration interaction. This procedure yields a Kramers doublet for the calculation of the complete g-tensor. Alternatively, for systems with weak spin-orbit effects, diagonalisation in a basis spanned by spin rotations of a single GHF determinant affords qualitatively correct g-tensors by eliminating errors related to spin contamination. For small first-row molecules, these approaches are evaluated against experimental data and full configuration interaction results. It is further demonstrated for two systems (a fictitious tetrahedral CH4+ species, and a CuF4(2-) complex) that a GCM strategy, in contrast to alternative mean-field methods, can correctly describe the spin-orbit splitting of orbitally-degenerate ground states, which causes large g-shifts and may lead to negative g-values.

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Quadrupole-octupole coupling and the evolution of collectivity in neutron-deficient Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd isotopes

The evolution of quadrupole and octupole collectivity in neutron-deficient Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd nuclei near the "octupole magic" neutron number $N=56$ is investigated within the mapped $sdf$-IBM framework. Microscopic input is obtained via quadrupole and octupole constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations, based on the parametrization D1M of the Gogny energy density functional. Octupole-deformed mean-field ground states are predicted for Ba and Ce isotopes near $N=56$. Excitation energies of positive- and negative-parity states as well as electric transition rates are computed with wave functions resulting from the diagonalization of the mapped IBM Hamiltonian. The parameters of the Hamiltonian are determined via the mapping of the mean-field potential energy surfaces onto the expectation value of the Hamiltonian in the condensate state of the $s$, $d$, and $f$ bosons. Enhanced octupolarity is predicted for Xe, Ba, and Ce isotopes near $N=56$. The shape/phase transition from octupole-deformed to strongly quadrupole-deformed near $N=60$ is analyzed in detail.

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Evolution of octupole deformation and collectivity in neutron-rich lanthanides

The onset of octupole deformation and its impact on related spectroscopic properties is studied in even-even neutron-rich lanthanide isotopes Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd with neutron number $86\leqslant N\leqslant 94$. Microscopic input comes from the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation with constrains on the axially symmetric quadrupole and octupole operators using the Gogny-D1M interaction. At the mean-field level, reflection asymmetric ground states are predicted for isotopes with neutron number around $N=88$. Spectroscopic properties are studied by diagonalizing the interacting boson model Hamiltonian, with the parameters obtained via the mapping of the mean-field potential energy surface onto the expectation value of the Hamiltonian in the $s$, $d$, and $f$ boson condensate state. The results obtained for low-energy positive- and negative-parity excitation spectra as well as the electric dipole, quadrupole, and octupole transition probabilities indicate the onset of pronounced octupolarity for $Z\approx 56$ and $N\approx 88$ nuclei.

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Quadrupole-octupole coupling and the onset of octupole deformation in actinides

The evolution of quadrupole and octupole collectivity and their coupling is investigated in a series of even-even isotopes of the actinide Ra, Th, U, Pu, Cm, and Cf with neutron number in the interval $130\leqslant N\leqslant 150$. The Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation, based on the parametrization D1M of the Gogny energy density functional, is employed to generate potential energy surfaces depending upon the axially-symmetric quadrupole and octupole shape degrees of freedom. The mean-field energy surface is then mapped onto the expectation value of the $sdf$ interacting-boson-model Hamiltonian in the boson condensate state as to determine the strength parameters of the boson Hamiltonian. Spectroscopic properties related to the octupole degree of freedom are produced by diagonalizing the mapped Hamiltonian. Calculated low-energy negative-parity spectra, $B(E3;3^{-}_{1}\to 0^{+}_{1})$ reduced transition rates, and effective octupole deformation suggest that the transition from nearly spherical to stable octupole-deformed, and to octupole vibrational states occurs systematically in the actinide region.

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Octupole correlations in light actinides from the interacting boson model based on the Gogny energy density functional

The quadrupole-octupole coupling and the related spectroscopic properties have been studied for the even-even light actinides $^{218-238}$Ra and $^{220-240}$Th. The Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation, based on the Gogny-D1M energy density functional, has been employed as a microscopic input, i.e., to obtain (axially symmetric) mean-field potential energy surfaces as functions of the quadrupole and octupole deformation parameters. The mean-field potential energy surfaces have been mapped onto the corresponding bosonic potential energy surfaces using the expectation value of the $sdf$ Interacting Boson Model (IBM) Hamiltonian in the boson condensate state. The strength parameters of the $sdf$-IBM Hamiltonian have been determined via this mapping procedure. The diagonalization of the mapped IBM Hamiltonian provides energies for positive- and negative-parity states as well as wave functions which are employed to obtain transitional strengths. The results of the calculations compare well with available data from Coulomb excitation experiments and point towards a pronounced octupole collectivity around $^{224}$Ra and $^{226}$Th.

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Microscopic description of fission in superheavy nuclei with the parametrization D1M$^{*}$ of the Gogny energy density functional

The constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation, based on the recent parametrization D1M$^{*}$ of the Gogny energy density functional, is used to describe fission in 435 superheavy nuclei. The Gogny-D1M$^{*}$ parametrization is benchmarked against available experimental data on inner and second barrier heights, excitation energies of the fission isomers and half-lives in a selected set of Pu, Cm, Cf, Fm, No, Rf, Sg, Hs and Fl nuclei. Results are also compared with those obtained with the Gogny-D1M energy density functional. A detailed study of the minimal energy fission paths is carried out for isotopic chains with atomic numbers 100 $\le$ Z $\le$ 126 including very neutron-rich sectors up to around 4 MeV from the two-neutron driplines. Single-particle energies, ground state deformations, pairing correlations, two-nucleon separation energies and barrier heights are also discussed. In addition to fission paths, the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov framework provides collective masses and zero-point quantum rotational and vibrational energies. Those quantities are building blocks within the Wentzel-Kramer-Brillouin formalism employed to evaluate the systematic of the spontaneous fission half-lives t$_\mathrm{SF}$. The competition between spontaneous fission and $α$-decay is studied, through the computation of the $α$-decay half-lives t$_\mathrmα$ using a parametrization of the Viola-Seaborg formula. From the comparison with the available experimental data and the results obtained with other theoretical approaches, it is concluded that D1M$^{*}$ represents a reasonable starting point to describe fission in heavy and superheavy nuclei.

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$β$ decay of even-A nuclei within the interacting boson model based on nuclear density functional theory

We compute the $β$-decay $ft$-values within the frameworks of the energy density functional (EDF) and the interacting boson model (IBM). Based on the constrained mean-field calculation with the Gogny-D1M EDF, the IBM Hamiltonian for an even-even nucleus and essential ingredients of the interacting boson-fermion-fermion model (IBFFM) for describing the neighboring odd-odd nucleus are determined in a microscopic way. Only the boson-fermion and residual neutron-proton interaction strengths are determined empirically. The Gamow-Teller (GT) and Fermi (F) transition rates needed to compute the $β$-decay $ft$-values are obtained without any additional parameter or quenching of the $g_A$ factor. The observed $\ft$ values for the $β^+$ decays of the even-even Ba into odd-odd Cs nuclei, and of the odd-odd Cs to the even-even Xe nuclei, with mass $A\approx 130$ are reasonably well described. The predicted GT and F transition rates represent a sensitive test of the quality of the IBM and IBFFM wave functions.

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$β$ decay of odd-A nuclei with the interacting boson-fermion model based on the Gogny energy density functional

The low-energy excitations and $β$ decays of odd-A nuclei are studied within the interacting boson-fermion model (IBFM), based on the Gogny-D1M nuclear energy density functional (EDF). The constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approximation is employed to compute potential energy surfaces in terms of triaxial quadrupole degrees of freedom for even-even Xe and Ba nuclei in the mass $A\approx 130$ region. The mean field approximation also provides spherical single-particle energies and occupation probabilities for the neighboring odd-A nuclei. Those quantities represent a microscopic input for spectroscopic calculations in odd-A Xe and Ba, Cs and La isotopes. The Gamow-Teller (GT) and Fermi (F) transition matrix elements, needed to compute $β$-decay $\log{ft}$ values are obtained without any phenomenological fitting. It is shown that both the low-lying states and $β$ decays of the studied odd-A systems are described reasonably well within the employed theoretical framework.

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Structure of odd-odd Cs isotopes within the interacting boson-fermion-fermion model based on the Gogny-D1M energy density functional

The spectroscopic properties of the odd-odd isotopes $^{124-132}$Cs have been studied within the interacting boson-fermion-fermion model based on the Gogny-D1M energy density functional framework. Major ingredients to build the interacting boson-fermion-fermion Hamiltonian, such as the ($β,γ$)-deformation energy surfaces for the even-even core nuclei $^{124-132}$Xe as well as single-particle energies and occupation probabilities of the odd nucleons, have been computed microscopically with the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method. A few coupling constants of the boson-fermion and residual neutron-proton interactions are fitted to reproduce with a reasonable accuracy the experimental excitation energy of the low-lying levels of the odd-mass and odd-odd nuclei. The method is applied to describe the low-energy low-spin spectra of the odd-odd Cs nuclei and the band structures of higher-spin higher-energy states, mainly based on the $(νh_{11/2})^{-1}\otimesπh_{11/2}$ configuration. Many of those odd-odd Cs nuclei have been identified as candidates for exhibiting chiral doublet bands.

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Spectroscopy of odd-odd nuclei within the interacting boson-fermion-fermion model based on the Gogny energy density functional

We present a method to calculate spectroscopic properties of odd-odd nuclei within the framework of the Interacting Boson-Fermion-Fermion Model based on the Gogny energy density functional. The $(β,γ)$-deformation energy surface of the even-even (boson-)core nucleus, spherical single-particle energies and occupation probabilities of the odd neutron and odd proton, are provided by the constrained self-consistent mean-field calculation within the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method with the Gogny-D1M functional. These quantities are used as a microscopic input to fix most of the parameters of the IBFFM Hamiltonian. Only a few coupling constants for the boson-fermion Hamiltonian and the residual neutron-proton interaction are specifically adjusted to reproduce experimental low-energy spectra in odd-mass and odd-odd nuclei, respectively. In this way, the number of free parameters involved in the IBFFM framework is reduced significantly. The method is successfully applied to the description of the low-energy spectra and electromagnetic transition rates in the odd-odd $^{194,196,198}$Au nuclei.

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Prolate-to-oblate shape phase transitions in neutron-rich odd-mass nuclei

We investigate the prolate-to-oblate shape phase transitions in the neutron-rich Pt, Os and Ir nuclei in the mass $A\approx 190$ region. The Hamiltonian of the interacting boson-fermion model, used to describe the odd-mass $^{185-199}$Pt, $^{185-193}$Os and $^{185-195}$Ir isotopes, is partially constructed by using as a microscopic input the results of constrained self-consistent mean-field calculations within the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method with the Gogny force. The remaining few parameters are adjusted to experimental data in the odd systems. In this way the calculations reasonably describe the spectroscopic properties of the odd-mass systems considered. Several calculated observables for the odd-mass nuclei, especially the low-energy excitation spectra and the effective deformation parameters, point to a prolate-oblate shape transition as a function of the neutron number for all the isotopic chains considered and similar to the one already observed in the neighboring even-even systems.

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Description of neutron-rich odd-mass krypton isotopes within the interacting boson-fermion model based on the Gogny energy density functional

The low-lying structure of neutron-rich odd-mass Kr isotopes is studied within the interacting boson-fermion model (IBFM) based on the Gogny-D1M energy density functional (EDF). The $(β,γ)$-deformation energy surfaces, spherical single-particle energies and occupation probabilities of the odd-mass systems are obtained using the constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approximation. Those quantities are used as a microscopic input to determine most of the parameters of the IBFM Hamiltonian. The remaining parameters are specifically tailored to the experimental spectrum for each of the studied odd-mass nuclei. A gradual structural evolution is predicted for the odd-mass isotopes $^{87-95}$Kr as a function of the nucleon number which, agrees well with the gradual growth of collectivity observed experimentally in the neighboring even-even isotopes.

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Microscopic description of fission in odd-mass uranium and plutonium nuclei with the Gogny energy density functional

The parametrization D1M of the Gogny energy density functional is used to study fission in the odd-mass Uranium and Plutonium isotopes with A=233,\ldots,249 within the framework of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) Equal Filling Approximation (EFA). Ground state quantum numbers and deformations, pairing energies, one-neutron separation energies, barrier heights and fission isomer excitation energies are given. Fission paths, collective masses and zero point rotational and vibrational quantum corrections are used to compute the systematic of the spontaneous fission half-lives t$_{SF}$, the masses and charges of the fission fragments as well as their intrinsic shapes. Although there exits a strong variance of the predicted fission rates with respect to the details involved in their computation, it is shown that both the specialization energy and the pairing quenching effects, taken into account fully variationally within the HFB-EFA blocking scheme, lead to larger spontaneous fission half-lives in odd-mass U and Pu nuclei as compared with the corresponding even-even neighbors. It is shown that modifications of a few percent in the strengths of the neutron and proton pairing fields can have a significant impact on the collective masses leading to uncertainties of several orders of magnitude in the predicted t$_{SF}$ values. Alpha-decay lifetimes have also been computed using a parametrization of the Viola-Seaborg formula.

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