arXiv subjects

R. Schiavilla

Publications and source records attributed to R. Schiavilla.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Parameter-free effective field theory calculation for the solar proton-fusion and hep processes

Spurred by the recent complete determination of the weak currents in two-nucleon systems up to ${\cal O}(Q^3)$ in heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory, we carry out a parameter-free calculation of the threshold $S$-factors for the solar $pp$ (proton-fusion) and $hep$ processes in an effective field theory that {\it combines} the merits of the standard nuclear physics method and systematic chiral expansion. The power of the EFT adopted here is that one can correlate in a unified formalism the weak-current matrix elements of two-, three- and four-nucleon systems. Using the tritium $β$-decay rate as an input to fix the only unknown parameter in the theory, we can evaluate the threshold $S$ factors with drastically improved precision; the results are $S_{pp}(0) = 3.94\times(1 \pm 0.004) \times 10^{-25} {MeV-b}$ and $S_{hep}(0) = (8.6\pm 1.3)\times 10^{-20} {keV-b}$. The dependence of the calculated $S$-factors on the momentum cutoff parameter $Λ$ has been examined for a physically reasonable range of $Λ$. This dependence is found to be extremely small for the $pp$ process, and to be within acceptable levels for the $hep$ process, substantiating the consistency of our calculational scheme.

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arXiv2002

Theoretical Study of the ^3He(mu^-,nu_mu)^3H Capture

The ^3He(mu^-,nu_mu)^3H weak capture is studied using correlated-hyperspherical-harmonics wave functions, obtained from realistic Hamiltonians consisting of the Argonne $v_{14}$ or Argonne $v_{18}$ two-nucleon, and Tucson-Melbourne or Urbana-IX three-nucleon interactions. The nuclear weak charge and current operators have vector and axial-vector components that include one- and two-body contributions. The strength of the leading two-body operator in the axial-vector current is adjusted to reproduce the Gamow-Teller matrix element in tritium $β$-decay. The calculated total capture rate is in excellent agreement with the most recent experimental determination $1496\pm 4$ sec$^{-1}$, when the PCAC value is adopted for the induced pseudo-scalar coupling constant $g_{PS}$. The predictions for the capture rate and angular correlation parameters $A_v$, $A_t$, and $A_Δ$ are found to be only very weakly dependent on the model input Hamiltonian. The variation of these observables with $g_{PS}$ and the theoretical uncertainties deriving from the model-dependent procedure used to constrain the axial current are investigated.

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arXiv2002

Weak Transitions in A=6 and 7 Nuclei

The $^6$He beta decay and $^7$Be electron capture processes are studied using variational Monte Carlo wave functions, derived from a realistic Hamiltonian consisting of the Argonne $v_{18}$ two-nucleon and Urbana-IX three-nucleon interactions. The model for the nuclear weak axial current includes one- and two-body operators with the strength of the leading two-body term--associated with $Δ$-isobar excitation of the nucleon--adjusted to reproduce the Gamow-Teller matrix element in tritium $β$-decay. The measured half-life of $^6$. He is under-predicted by theory by $\simeq$ 8%, while that of $^7$Be for decay into the ground and first excited states of $^7$Li is over-predicted by $\simeq$ 9%. However, the experimentally known branching ratio for these latter processes is in good agreement with the calculated value. Two-body axial current contributions lead to a $\simeq$ 1.7% (4.4%) increase in the value of the Gamow-Teller matrix element of $^6$He ($^7$Be), obtained with one-body currents only, and slightly worsen (appreciably improve) the agreement between the calculated and measured half-life. Corrections due to retardation effects associated with the finite lepton momentum transfers involved in the decays, as well as contributions of suppressed transitions induced by the weak vector charge and axial current operators, have also been calculated and found to be negligible.

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arXiv2002

Elastic e-d Scattering Data and the Deuteron Wave Function

What range of momentum components in the deuteron wave function are available e d elastic scattering data sensitive to ? This question is addressed within the context of a model calculation of the deuteron form factors, based on realistic interactions and currents. It is shown that the data on the $A(q)$, $B(q)$, and $T_{20}(q)$ observables at $q \leq 6$ fm$^{-1}$ essentially probe momentum components up to $\simeq 4 m_π$.

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arXiv2001

Parity-Violating Interaction Effects I: the Longitudinal Asymmetry in pp Elastic Scattering

The proton-proton parity-violating longitudinal asymmetry is calculated in the lab-energy range 0--350 MeV, using a number of different, latest-generation strong-interaction potentials--Argonne V18, Bonn-2000, and Nijmegen-I--in combination with a weak-interaction potential consisting of rho- and omega-meson exchanges--the model known as DDH. The complete scattering problem in the presence of parity-conserving, including Coulomb, and parity-violating potentials is solved in both configuration- and momentum-space. The predicted parity-violating asymmetries are found to be only weakly dependent upon the input strong-interaction potential adopted in the calculation. Values for the rho- and omega-meson weak coupling constants $h^{pp}_ρ$ and $h^{pp}_ω$ are determined by reproducing the measured asymmetries at 13.6 MeV, 45 MeV, and 221 MeV.

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arXiv2001

The Solar hep Process in Effective Field Theory

Using effective field theory, we calculate the S-factor for the hep process in a totally parameter-free formulation. The transition operators are organized according to chiral counting, and their matrix elements are evaluated using the realistic nuclear wave functions obtained in the correlated-hyperspherical-harmonics method. Terms of up to next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order in heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory are considered. Fixing the only parameter in the theory by fitting the tritium β-decay rate, we predict the hep S-factor with accuracy better than \sim 20 %.

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arXiv2001

Parameter-Free Calculation of the Solar Proton Fusion Rate in Effective Field Theory

Spurred by the recent complete determination of the weak currents in two-nucleon systems up to ${\cal O}(Q^3)$ in heavy-baryon chiral perturbation theory, we carry out a parameter-free calculation of the solar proton fusion rate in an effective field theory that combines the merits of the standard nuclear physics method and systematic chiral expansion. Using the tritium beta-decay rate as an input to fix the only unknown parameter in the effective Lagrangian, we can evaluate with drastically improved precision the ratio of the two-body contribution to the well established one-body contribution; the ratio is determined to be (0.86\pm 0.05) %. This result is essentially independent of the cutoff parameter for a wide range of its variation (500 MeV \le Λ\le 800 MeV), a feature that substantiates the consistency of the calculation.

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arXiv2001

Neutron charge form factor at large $q^2$

The neutron charge form factor $G_{En}(q)$ is determined from an analysis of the deuteron quadrupole form factor $F_{C2}$ data. Recent calculations, based on a variety of different model interactions and currents, indicate that the contributions associated with the uncertain two-body operators of shorter range are relatively small for $F_{C2}$, even at large momentum transfer $q$. Hence, $G_{En}(q)$ can be extracted from $F_{C2}$ at large $q^2$ without undue systematic uncertainties from theory.

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arXiv2001

Longitudinal and Transverse Quasi-Elastic Response Functions of Light Nuclei

The $^3$He and $^4$He longitudinal and transverse response functions are determined from an analysis of the world data on quasi-elastic inclusive electron scattering. The corresponding Euclidean response functions are derived and compared to those calculated with Green's function Monte Carlo methods, using realistic interactions and currents. Large contributions associated with two-body currents are found, particularly in the $^4$He transverse response, in agreement with data. The contributions of two-body charge and current operators in the $^3$He, $^4$He, and $^6$Li response functions are also studied via sum-rule techniques. A semi-quantitative explanation for the observed systematics in the excess of transverse quasi-elastic strength, as function of mass number and momentum transfer, is provided. Finally, a number of model studies with simplified interactions, currents, and wave functions is carried out to elucidate the role played, in the full calculation, by tensor interactions and correlations.

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arXiv2000

Six-body calculation of the alpha-deuteron radiative capture cross section

We have computed the cross section for the process d + alpha -> 6Li + gamma at the low energies relevant for primordial nucleosynthesis and comparison with laboratory data. The final state is a six-body wave function generated by the variational Monte Carlo method from the Argonne v_18 and Urbana IX potentials, including improved treatment of large-particle-separation behavior. The initial state is built up from the alpha-particle and deuteron ground-state solutions for these potentials, with phenomenological descriptions of scattering and cluster distortions. The dominant E2 cross section is in reasonable agreement with the laboratory data. Including center-of-energy and other small corrections, we obtain an E1 contribution which is larger than the measured contribution at 2 MeV by a factor of 7. We calculate explicitly the impulse-approximation M1 contribution, which is expected to be very small, and obtain a result consistent with zero. We find little reason to suspect that the cross section is large enough to produce significant 6Li in the big bang.

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arXiv2000

Parity-Violating Electron-Deuteron Scattering

The longitudinal asymmetry due to $Z^0$ exchange is calculated in quasi-elastic electron-deuteron scattering at momentum transfers $|Q^2| \simeq 0.1$ GeV$^2$ relevant for the SAMPLE experiment. The deuteron and $pn$ scattering-state wave functions are obtained from solutions of a Schrödinger equation with the Argonne $v_{18}$ potential. Electromagnetic and weak neutral one- and two-nucleon currents are included in the calculation. The two-nucleon currents of pion range are shown to be identical to those derived in Chiral Perturbation Theory. The results indicate that two-body contributions to the asymmetry are small ($\simeq$ 0.2%) around the quasi-elastic peak, but become relatively more significant ($\simeq$ 3%) in the high-energy wing of the quasi-elastic peak.

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arXiv2000

Electromagnetic Structure of Few-Nucleon Systems: a Critical Review

Our current understanding of the structure of nuclei with up to A=8, including energy spectra, electromagnetic form factors, and capture reactions, is critically reviewed within the context of a realistic approach to nuclear dynamics based on two- and three-nucleon interactions and associated electromagnetic currents.

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arXiv2000

Interactions, Currents, and the Structure of Few-Nucleon Systems

Our current understanding of the structure of nuclei with up to A=8, including energy spectra, electromagnetic form factors, and weak transitions, is reviewed within the context of a realistic approach to nuclear dynamics based on two- and three- nucleon interactions and associated electro-weak currents. Low-energy radiative and weak capture reactions of astrophysical relevance involving these light systems are also discussed.

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arXiv2000

Electro-weak Reactions for Astrophysics

The status of "ab initio" microscopic calculations of the 2H(p,gamma)3He and 3He(p,e+nu_e)4He reactions is reviewed. The methods used to generate accurate nuclear ground- and scattering-state wave functions, and to construct realistic electro-weak transition operators are described. The uncertainties in the theoretical predictions, particularly those relevant to the p-3He weak capture, are discussed. For the dp radiative capture, the theoretical results are compared with the TUNL data in the energy range 0--100 keV.

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arXiv2000

Weak proton capture on 3He

The astrophysical S-factor for the proton weak capture on 3He is calculated with correlated-hyperspherical-harmonics bound and continuum wave functions corresponding to realistic Hamiltonians consisting of the Argonne v14 or Argonne v18 two-nucleon and Urbana-VIII or Urbana-IX three-nucleon interactions. The nuclear weak charge and current operators have vector and axial-vector components, that include one- and many-body terms. All possible multipole transitions connecting any of the p 3He S- and P-wave channels to the 4He bound state are considered. The S-factor at a p 3He center-of-mass energy of 10 keV, close to the Gamow-peak energy, is predicted to be 10.1 10^{-20} keV b with the AV18/UIX Hamiltonian, a factor of about 4.5 larger than the value adopted in the standard solar model. The P-wave transitions are found to be important, contributing about 40 % of the calculated S-factor. The energy dependence is rather weak: the AV18/UIX zero-energy S-factor is 9.64 10^{-20} keV b, only 5 % smaller than the 10 keV result quoted above. The model dependence is also found to be weak: the zero-energy S-factor is calculated to be 10.2 10^{-20} keV b with the older AV14/UVIII model, only 6 % larger than the AV18/UIX result. Our best estimate for the S-factor at 10 keV is therefore (10.1 \pm 0.6) 10^{-20} keV b, when the theoretical uncertainty due to the model dependence is included. This value for the calculated S-factor is not as large as determined in fits to the Super-Kamiokande data in which the hep flux normalization is free. However, the precise calculation of the S-factor and the consequent absolute prediction for the hep neutrino flux will allow much greater discrimination among proposed solar neutrino oscillation solutions.

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arXiv2000

Realistic Calculation of the hep Astrophysical Factor

The astrophysical factor for the proton weak capture on 3He is calculated with correlated-hyperspherical-harmonics bound and continuum wave functions corresponding to a realistic Hamiltonian consisting of the Argonne v18 two-nucleon and Urbana-IX three-nucleon interactions. The nuclear weak charge and current operators have vector and axial-vector components, that include one- and many-body terms. All possible multipole transitions connecting any of the p-3He S- and P-wave channels to the 4He bound state are considered. The S-factor at a p-3He center-of-mass energy of 10 keV, close to the Gamow-peak energy, is predicted to be 10.1 10^{-20} keV b, a factor of five larger than the standard-solar-model value. The P-wave transitions are found to be important, contributing about 40 % of the calculated S-factor.

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arXiv1999

Photo- and Electro-Disintegration of 3He at Threshold and pd Radiative Capture

The present work reports results for: pd radiative capture observables measured at center-of-mass (c.m.) energies in the range 0--100 keV and at 2 MeV by the TUNL and Wisconsin groups, respectively; contributions to the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn (GDH) integral in 3He from the two- up to the three-body breakup thresholds, compared to experimental determinations by the TUNL group in this threshold region; longitudinal, transverse, and interference response functions measured in inclusive polarized electron scattering off polarized 3He at excitation energies below the threshold for breakup into ppn, compared to unpolarized longitudinal and transverse data from the Saskatoon group. The calculations are based on a realistic Hamiltonian with two- and three-nucleon interactions and a realistic current operator, including one- and two-body components. The theoretical predictions obtained by including only one-body currents are in violent disagreement with data. These differences between theory and experiment are, to a large extent, removed when two-body currents are taken into account, although some rather large discrepancies remain in the c.m. energy range 0--100 keV, particularly for the pd differential cross section and tensor analyzing power at small angles, and contributions to the GDH integral. A rather detailed analysis indicates that these discrepancies have, in large part, a common origin, and can be traced back to an excess strength obtained in the theoretical calculation of the E1 reduced matrix element associated with the pd channel having L,S,J=1,1/2,3/2. It is suggested that this lack of E1 strength observed experimentally might have implications for the nuclear interaction at very low energies. Finally, the validity of the long-wavelength approximation for electric dipole transitions is discussed.

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arXiv1998

Microscopic calculation of 6Li elastic and transition form factors

Variational Monte Carlo wave functions, obtained from a realistic Hamiltonian consisting of the Argonne v18 two-nucleon and Urbana-IX three-nucleon interactions, are used to calculate the 6Li ground-state longitudinal and transverse form factors as well as transition form factors to the first four excited states. The charge and current operators include one- and two-body components, leading terms of which are constructed consistently with the two-nucleon interaction. The calculated form factors and radiative widths are in good agreement with available experimental data.

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