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S. P. Weppner

Publications and source records attributed to S. P. Weppner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

Separable character of ab initio No-Core Shell Model one-body densities

Motivated by recent findings on the separability of optical potentials that are derived from folding off-shell densities with off-shell nucleon-nucleon amplitudes, we study the off-shell character of one-body density matrices created within the No-Core Shell Model (NCSM). Concentrating on nuclei with a 0$^+$ ground state from $^4$He through $^{48}$Ca, we investigate the off-shell character of their one-body density matrices in momentum space when using the momentum transfer and the average momentum as variables. A singular value decomposition of the one-body density matrices reveals that they can be characterized by only very few terms, depending on the mass number of the nucleus. These findings are independent of the nucleon-nucleon interactions employed, as well as from computational specifics as grid spacing and size of the model space.

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arXiv2023

Adding Corrections to Global Spherical Potentials for Use in a Coupled-Channel Formulation

The coupled-channel technique augments a non-relativistic distorted wave born approximation scattering calculation to include a coupling to virtual states from the negative energy region. It has been found to be important in low energy nucleon-nucleus scattering. We modify the nucleon-nucleus standard optical potentials, not designed for a coupled-channel space, so they can be used in that setting. The changes are small and systematic. We use a standard scattering code to adjust a variety of optical potentials and targets such that the original fit to scattering observables are maintained as we incorporate the coupled-channel environment. Overall over forty target nuclei were tested from $A=12$ to $A=205$ and nucleon projectile energies from 1 MeV to 200 MeV. There is excellent improvement in fitting the scattering observables, especially for low energy neutron scattering.The corrections were found to be unimportant for projectile energies greater than 200 MeV. The largest changes are to the surface amplitudes while the real radii and the real central amplitude are modified by only a few percent, every other parameter is unchanged. This technique is general enough to be applied to a variety of inelastic theoretical calculations.

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arXiv2023

Nuclear structure and elastic scattering observables obtained consistently with different NN interactions

Nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) interactions based on chiral effective theories are commonly used in ab initio calculations of light nuclei. Here we present a study based on three different NN interactions (up to next-to-next-to-leading order) for which structure and elastic proton scattering observables are consistently calculated for $^4$He, $^{12}$C, and $^{16}$O. The interactions are compared at the two-body level in terms of Wolfenstein amplitudes, and their predictions for ground state energies, point-proton radii, and charge form factors, as well as proton elastic scattering observables in the leading-order spectator expansion in the energy range between 65 and 160 MeV projectile energy are presented. To gain further insight into differences visible in elastic scattering observables, we investigate the behavior of the calculated effective nucleon-nucleus interactions for the $^{12}$C nucleus based on the different $NN$ interactions.

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arXiv2023

Chiral uncertainties in ab initio nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering

The effective interaction between a nucleon and a nucleus is one of the most important ingredients for reaction theories. Theoretical formulations were introduced early by Feshbach and Watson, and efforts of deriving and computing those `optical potentials' in a microscopic fashion have a long tradition. However, only recently the leading order term in the Watson multiple scattering approach could be calculated fully {\it ab initio}, meaning that the same nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction enters both the structure as well as the reaction pieces on equal footing. This allows the uncertainties from the underlying chiral effective NN interaction to be systematically explored in nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering observables. In this contribution the main ingredients for arriving at the {\it ab initio} leading order of the effective nucleon-nucleus interaction in the Watson approach will be reviewed. Concentrating on one specific chiral NN interaction from the LENPIC collaboration and light nuclei with a 0$^+$ ground state, the leading order nucleon-nucleus interaction is calculated using up to the third chiral order (N2LO) in the nucleon-nucleon potential, and elastic scattering observables are extracted. Then pointwise as well as correlated uncertainty quantification is used for the estimation of the chiral truncation error. Elastic scattering observables for $^4$He, $^{12}$C, and $^{16}$O for between 65 and 200 MeV projectile energy will be analyzed.

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arXiv2021

Ab initio nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering with chiral effective field theory uncertainties

Background: Effective interactions for nucleon-nucleus ($NA$) elastic scattering from first principles require the use of the same nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) interaction in the structure and reaction calculations, and a consistent treatment of the relevant operators at each order. Purpose: Truncation uncertainties of chiral $NN$ forces have been studied for scattering observables in few-body systems and for bound state properties of light nuclei. We extend this to $NA$ elastic scattering. Methods: With the spectator expansion of multiple scattering theory and the no-core shell model, we use a chiral interaction from the LENPIC collaboration to consistently calculate the leading order effective $NA$ interaction up to third chiral order (N2LO) and extract elastic scattering observables. We quantify the chiral truncation error using pointwise and correlated methods. Results: We analyze proton-$^{16}$O and neutron-$^{12}$C elastic scattering observables between 65 and 185 MeV projectile kinetic energy. We find qualitatively similar results for the chiral truncation uncertainties as in few-body systems, which we assess using similar diagnostic tools. The order-by-order convergence of the scattering observables for $^{16}$O and $^{12}$C is reasonable near 100 MeV, but for higher energies the expansion parameter becomes too large to converge. We find a near-perfect correlation between the neutron differential cross section and the $NN$ Wolfenstein amplitudes for small momentum transfers. Conclusions: The tools used to study the convergence of a chiral $NN$ interaction in few-body systems can be applied to $NA$ scattering with minor changes. The $NN$ interaction used here gives a good description of $^{16}$O and $^{12}$C scattering observables as low as 65 MeV. The very forward direction of the neutron differential cross section mirrors the behavior of the $NN$ interaction amazingly well.

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arXiv2021

Nonlocal structure of the leading order \textit{ab initio} effective potentials for proton elastic scattering from light nuclei

Based on the spectator expansion of the multiple scattering series we employ a chiral next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) nucleon-nucleon interaction on the same footing in the structure as well as in the reaction calculation to obtain an in leading-order consistent effective potential for nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering, which includes the spin of the struck target nucleon. As an example we present proton scattering off $^{12}$C.

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arXiv2021

Nuclear spin features relevant to ab initio nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering

Background: Effective interactions for elastic nucleon-nucleus scattering from first principles require the use of the same nucleon-nucleon interaction in the structure and reaction calculations, as well as a consistent treatment of the relevant operators at each order. Purpose: Previous work using these interactions has shown good agreement with available data. Here, we study the physical relevance of one of these operators, which involves the spin of the struck nucleon, and examine the interpretation of this quantity in a nuclear structure context. Methods: Using the framework of the spectator expansion and the underlying framework of the no-core shell model, we calculate and examine spin-projected, one-body momentum distributions required for effective nucleon-nucleus interactions in $J=0$ nuclear states. Results: The calculated spin-projected, one-body momentum distributions for $^4$He, $^6$He, and $^8$He display characteristic behavior based on the occupation of protons and neutrons in single particle levels, with more nucleons of one type yielding momentum distributions with larger values. Additionally, we find this quantity is strongly correlated to the magnetic moment of the $2^+$ excited state in the ground state rotational band for each nucleus considered. Conclusions: We find that spin-projected, one-body momentum distributions can probe the spin content of a $J=0$ wave function. This feature may allow future \textit{ab initio} nucleon-nucleus scattering studies to inform spin properties of the underlying nucleon-nucleon interactions. The observed correlation to the magnetic moment of excited states illustrates a previously unknown connection between reaction observables such as the analyzing power and structure observables like the magnetic moment.

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arXiv2020

Ab initio Leading Order Effective Potentials for Elastic Nucleon-Nucleus Scattering

Background: Calculating microscopic effective interactions (optical potentials) for elastic nucleon-nucleus scattering has already in the past led to a large body of work. For first-order calculations a nucleon-nucleon (\textit{NN}) interaction and a one-body density of the nucleus were taken as input to rigorous calculations of microscopic full-folding calculations. Purpose: Based on the spectator expansion of the multiple scattering series we employ a chiral next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) nucleon-nucleon interaction on the same footing in the structure as well as in the reaction calculation to obtain an in leading-order consistent effective potential for nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering, which includes the spin of the struck target nucleon. Methods: The first order effective folding potential is computed by first deriving a nonlocal scalar density as well as a spin-projected momentum distribution. Those are then integrated with the off-shell Wolfenstein amplitudes $A$, $C$, and $M$. The resulting nonlocal potential serves as input to a momentum-space Lippmann-Schwinger equation, whose solutions are summed to obtain the nucleon-nucleus scattering observables. Results: We calculate elastic scattering observables for $^4$He, $^6$He, $^8$He, $^{12}$C, and $^{16}$O in the energy regime between 100 and 200 MeV projectile kinetic energy, and compare to available data. We also explore the extension down to about 70 MeV, and study the effect of ignoring the spin of the struck nucleon in the nucleus. Conclusions: In our calculations we contrast elastic scattering off closed-shell and open-shell nuclei. We find that for closed-shell nuclei the approximation of ignoring the spin of the struck target nucleon is excellent. We only see effects of the spin of the struck target nucleon when considering $^6$He and $^8$He, which are nuclei with a $N/Z$ ratio larger than 1.

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arXiv2019

Spin dependent ab initio nonlocal No-Core Shell-Model One-Body Densities

Constructing microscopic effective interactions (`optical potentials') for nucleon-nucleus (NA) elastic scattering requires in first order off-shell nucleon-nucleon (NN) scattering amplitudes between the projectile and the struck target nucleon and nonlocal one-body density matrices. While the NN amplitudes and the {\it ab intio} no-core shell-model (NCSM) calculations always contain the full spin structure of the NN problem, one-body density matrices used in traditional microscopic folding potential neglect spin contributions inherent in the one-body density matrix. Here we derive and show the expectation values of the spin-orbit contribution of the struck nucleon with respect to the rest of the nucleus for $^{4}$He, $^{6}$He, $^{12}$C, and $^{16}$O and compare them with the scalar one-body density matrix.

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arXiv2018

Ab initio Folding Potentials for Nucleon-Nucleus Scattering based on NCSM One-Body Densities

Calculating microscopic optical potentials for elastic nucleon-nucleus scattering has already led to large body of work in the past. For folding first-order calculations the nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction and the one-body density of the nucleus were taken as input to rigorous calculations in a spectator expansion of the multiple scattering series. Based on the Watson expansion of the multiple scattering series we employ a nonlocal translationally invariant nuclear density derived from a chiral next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) and the very same interaction for consistent full-folding calculation of the effective (optical) potential for nucleon-nucleus scattering for light nuclei. We calculate scattering observables, such as total, reaction, and differential cross sections as well as the analyzing power and the spin-rotation parameter, for elastic scattering of protons and neutrons from $^4$He, $^{6}$He, $^{12}$C, and $^{16}$O, in the energy regime between 100 and 200~MeV projectile kinetic energy, and compare to available data. Our calculations show that the effective nucleon-nucleus potential obtained from the first-order term in the spectator expansion of the multiple scattering expansion describes experiments very well to about 60 degrees in the center-of-mass frame, which coincides roughly with the validity of the NNLO chiral interaction used to calculate both the NN amplitudes and the one-body nuclear density.

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arXiv2018

Study of 12C(p,p',gamma)12C reaction

In the present work, we report our in depth study of 12C(p,p'gamma)12C reaction both experimentally and theoretically with proton beam energy ranging from 8 MeV to 22 MeV. The angular distributions were measured at six different angles. We discuss the gamma angular distributions, total cross sections values for 4.438, 9.64, 12.7 and 15.1 MeV states. We also describe the theoretical interpretation of our measurements using optical model analysis. We also report the branching ratios from our measurements. For the first time, we have measured the the cross section and branching ratio for the 9.64 MeV state.

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arXiv2015

A Variable Polytrope Index Applied to Planet and Material Models

We introduce a new approach to a century old assumption which enhances not only planetary interior calculations but also high pressure material physics. We show that the polytropic index is the derivative of the bulk modulus with respect to pressure. We then augment the traditional polytrope theory by including a variable polytrope index within the confines of the Lane-Emden differential equation. To investigate the possibilities of this method we create a high quality universal equation of state, transforming the traditional polytrope method to a tool with the potential for excellent predictive power. The theoretical foundation of our equation of state is the same elastic observable which we found equivalent to the polytrope index, the derivative of the bulk modulus with respect to pressure. We calculate the density-pressure of six common materials up to 10$^{18}$ Pa, mass-radius relationships for the same materials, and produce plausible density-radius models for the rocky planets of our solar system. We argue that the bulk modulus and its derivatives have been under utilized in previous planet formation methods. We constrain the material surface observables for the inner core, outer core, and mantle of planet Earth in a systematic way including pressure, bulk modulus, and the polytrope index in the analysis. We believe this variable polytrope method has the necessary apparatus to be extended further to gas giants and stars. As supplemental material we provide computer code to calculate multi-layered planets.

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arXiv2014

An isospin dependent global nucleon-nucleus optical model at intermediate energies

A global nucleon-nucleus optical potential for elastic scattering has been produced which replicates experimental data to high accuracy and compares well with other recently formulated potentials. The calculation that has been developed describes proton and neutron scattering from target nuclei ranging from carbon to nickel and is applicable for projectile energies from 30 to 160 MeV. With these ranges it is suitable for calculations associated with experiments performed by exotic beam accelerators. The potential is also isospin dependent and has both real and imaginary isovector asymmetry terms to better describe the dynamics of chains of isotopes and mirror nuclei. An analysis of the validity and strength of the asymmetry term is included with connections established to other optical potentials and charge-exchange reaction data. An on-line observable calculator is available for this optical potential.

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arXiv2013

Open Shell Effects in a Microscopic Optical Potential for Elastic Scattering of $^{6(8)}$He

Elastic scattering observables (differential cross section and analyzing power) are calculated for the reaction $^6$He(p,p)$^6$He at projectile energies starting at 71 MeV/nucleon. The optical potential needed to describe the reaction is based on a microscopic Watson first-order folding potential, which explicitly takes into account that the two neutrons outside the $^4$He-core occupy an open p-shell. The folding of the single-particle harmonic oscillator density matrix with the nucleon-nucleon t-matrix leads for this case to new terms not present in traditional folding optical potentials for closed shell nuclei. The effect of those new terms on the elastic scattering observables is investigated. Furthermore, the influence of an exponential tail of the p-shell wave functions on the scattering observables is studied, as well as the sensitivity of the observables to variations of matter and charge radius. Finally elastic scattering observables for the reaction $^8$He(p,p)$^8$He are presented at selected projectile energies.

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arXiv2012

Microscopic Optical Potentials for Helium-6 Scattering off Protons

The differential cross section and the analyzing power are calculated for elastic scattering of $^6$He from a proton target using a microscopic folding optical potential, in which the $^6$He nucleus is described in terms of a $^4$He-core with two additional neutrons in the valence p-shell. In contrast to previous work of that nature, all contributions from the interaction of the valence neutrons with the target protons are taken into account.

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arXiv2012

Elastic Scattering of $^6$He based on a Cluster Description

Elastic scattering observables (differential cross section and analyzing power) are calculated for the reaction $^6$He(p,p)$^6$He at projectile energies starting at 71 MeV/nucleon. The optical potential needed to describe the reaction is derived describing $^6$He in terms of a $^4$He-core and two neutrons. The Watson first order multiple scattering ansatz is extended to accommodate the internal dynamics of a composite cluster model for the $^6$He nucleus scattering from a nucleon projectile. The calculations are compared with the recent experiments at the projectile energy of 71 MeV/nucleon. In addition, differential cross sections and analyzing powers are calculated at selected higher energies.

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arXiv2004

Application of the Pauli principle in many-body scattering

A new development in the antisymmetrization of the first-order nucleon-nucleus elastic microscopic optical potential is presented which systematically includes the many-body character of the nucleus within the two-body scattering operators. The results reduce the overall strength of the nucleon-nucleus potential and require the inclusion of historically excluded channels from the nucleon-nucleon potential input. Calculations produced improve the match with neutron-nucleus total cross section, elastic proton-nucleus differential cross section, and spin observable data. A comparison is also done using different nucleon-nucleon potentials from the past twenty years.

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