arXiv subjects

S. Stoica

Publications and source records attributed to S. Stoica.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Updated Results for Kinematic Factors in Double Beta Decays

Accurate calculations of phase space factors (PSFs), electron energy spectra and angular correlations are essential for designing and interpreting double-beta decay (DBD) experiments. These quantities help maximize sensitivity to potential signals, distinguish between different decay modes and interpret the data. In this work we provide updated results for these kinematic factors for two-neutrino ($2νββ$) and neutrinoless ($0νββ$) decay modes, including electron-emission, positron-emission and electron capture transitions. The calculations are performed with an adapted Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Slater method which allows for orthogonality of the wave functions of electrons and positrons in bound and continuum states and incorporates relevant atomic features such us screening, finite nuclear size, exchange corrections and phase shift effects. We provide tables with updated PSFs calculated both in the closure approximation and using the Taylor expansion method, for a large number of DBD isotopes. We discuss the impact of individual atomic corrections and find that our results are in line with predictions reported in recent literature. In some specific cases we find differences between our PSF values and those previously reported which are worth considering for better prediction and interpretation of DBD data. Then, we provide numerical values for $^{76}\text{Ge}$, $^{100}\text{Mo}$, $^{130}\text{Te}$ and $^{136}\text{Xe}$, which are most investigated in current DBD experiments. Similar data for other isotopes are available upon request.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Self-consistent calculations for atomic electron capture

We present a comprehensive investigation of electron capture (EC) ratios spanning a broad range of atomic numbers. The study employs a self-consistent computational method that incorporates electron screening, electron correlations, overlap and exchange corrections, as well as shake-up and shake-off atomic effects. The electronic wave functions are computed with the Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Slater (DHFS) method, chosen following a systematic comparison of binding energies, atomic relaxation energies and Coulomb amplitudes against other existing methods and experimental data. A novel feature in the calculations is the use of an energy balance employing atomic masses, which avoids approximating the electron total binding energy and allows a more precise determination of the neutrino energy. This leads to a better agreement of our predictions for capture ratios in comparison with the experimental ones, especially for low-energy transitions. We expand the assessment of EC observables uncertainties by incorporating atomic relaxation energy uncertainties, in contrast to previous studies focusing only on Q-value and nuclear level energies. Detailed results are presented for nuclei of practical interest in both nuclear medicine and exotic physics searches involving liquid Xenon detectors ($^{67}\mathrm{Ga}$, $^{111}\mathrm{In}$, $^{123}\mathrm{I}$, $^{125}\mathrm{I}$ and $^{125}\mathrm{Xe}$). Our study can be relevant for astrophysical, nuclear, and medical applications.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Exchange correction for allowed $β$-decay

We investigate the exchange effect between the final atom's bound electrons and those emitted in the allowed $β$-decay of the initial nucleus. The electron wave functions are obtained with the Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Slater self-consistent method, and we ensure the orthogonality between the continuum and bound electron states, in the potential of the final atom, by modifying the last iteration of the self-consistent method. We show that orthogonality plays an essential role in calculating the exchange correction. After imposing the orthogonality, we found considerable differences in magnitude and energy dependence compared to previous results. We argue that our findings can solve the mismatch between the previous predictions and experimental measurements in the low-energy region of the $β$ spectrum. First, we calculate the exchange effect for the low-energy $β$ transitions in $^{14}$C, $^{45}$Ca, $^{63}$Ni, and $^{241}$Pu, recently investigated in the literature. Next, we compute the total exchange correction for a large number of $β$ emitters, with $Z$ from $1$ to $102$. From the systematic study, we found that for ultra-low energy, i.e., $5$ eV, the $Z$ dependence of total exchange effect is affected by $s_{1/2}$ and $p_{1/2}$ orbitals closure. We also show that the contributions from orbitals higher than $2s_{1/2}$ orbital are essential for correctly calculating the total effect, especially for low energies and heavy $β$ emitters. Finally, we provide an analytical expression of the total exchange correction for each atomic number for easy implementation in experimental investigations.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

A Statistical Analysis for the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Matrix element of 48Ca

Neutrinoless double beta decay ($0νββ$) nuclear matrix elements (NME) are the object of many theoretical calculation methods, and are very important for analysis and guidance of a large number of experimental efforts. However, there are large discrepancies between the NME values provided by different methods. In this paper we propose a statistical analysis of the $^{48}$Ca $0νββ$ NME using the interacting shell model, emphasizing the range of the NME probable values and its correlations with observables that can be obtained from the existing nuclear data. Based on this statistical analysis with three independent effective Hamiltonians we propose a common probability distribution function for the $0νββ$ NME, which has a range of (0.45 - 0.95) at 90\% confidence level of, and a mean value of 0.68.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Investigation of the Lorentz invariance violation in two-neutrino double-beta decay

We make a comprehensive investigation of the Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) effects that may occur in two-neutrino double-beta ($2νββ$) decay for all the experimentally interesting nuclei. We deduce the formulas for the LIV deviations and provide single and summed energy electron spectra and angular correlation between electrons with and without LIV contributions, to be used for constraining the LIV coefficient $\mathring{a}_{\text{of}}^{(3)}$. First, we confirm the shifting of the electron spectra to higher electron energies due to LIV for all nuclei. Next, we analyze other LIV signatures that can be used in LIV investigations. Thus, from the comparison of the electron and angular correlation spectra calculated with the inclusion of the LIV contributions, with their standard forms, information can be obtained about the strength versus observability of the LIV effects in the current experimental statistics. Then, we present the alternative method of constraining $\mathring{a}_{\text{of}}^{(3)}$ from the measurement of the angular correlation coefficient and estimate the statistics that different double-beta decay experiments should reach to constrain the LIV coefficient at the level of the current beta decay experiments. We hope that our work will improve the theoretical support and further stimulate the search for LIV in double-beta decay.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2020

Probing Lorentz violation in $2νββ$ using single electron spectra and angular correlations

We show that the current search for Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) in the summed energy spectra of electrons in $2νββ$ decay can be extended by investigating the single electron spectra and the angular correlation between the emitted electrons. We derive and calculate the LIV contributions to these spectra associated with the anisotropic part of the countershaded operator and controlled through the coefficient $\mathring{a}_{\text{of}}^{(3)}$ and discuss possible signatures that may be probed in experiments. First, we show that some distortion occurs in the single electron spectrum, maximal at small electron energies. Then, we show that other LIV effects may be highlighted by analysing the angular correlation spectra and the ratio between the Standard Model Extension (SME) electron spectra and their Standard Model (SM) forms. We found that these LIV signatures depend on the magnitude of $\mathring{a}_{\text{of}}^{(3)}$, manifest differently for positive and negative values of this coefficient, and become more pronounced as the electron energy approaches the $Q$-value. Finally, we propose an alternative, new method to constrain $\mathring{a}_{\text{of}}^{(3)}$ through the measurement of the angular correlation coefficient. Using this method, and considering only statistical uncertainties, we obtain bounds of $\mathring{a}_{\text{of}}^{(3)}$ at the level of present ones, obtained from summed energy spectra. We show that future experiments can improve these limits significantly. Our study is performed for $^{100}$Mo, but the results hold qualitatively for other nuclei that undergo a double-beta decay. We hope our results will provide additional motivation for the LIV analyses performed in DBD experiments.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Phase Space Factors for Double Beta Decay: an up-date

We give a complete, up-date list of the phase space factors (PSF) for beta-beta-, beta+beta+, EC beta+ and ECEC double beta decay (DBD) modes, in all nuclei of interest and possible transitions to final states. In calculation, the Coulomb distortion of the electron wave functions is treated by solving numerically the Dirac equation with inclusion of the finite nuclear size and electron screening effects. In addition to the previous calculations we use a Coulomb potential derived from a realistic proton density distribution in nucleus, improve the precision of the numerical routines used to solve the Dirac equations and to integrate the PSF expressions, and use recently reported Q-values. These ingredients proved to be important, leading in many cases to significant differences as compared to the present available PSF values, which are discussed as well. Accurate values of the PSF are necessary ingredients both for theorists, to improve the DBD lifetime predictions and constraint the neutrino parameters, and for experimentalists to plan their set-ups.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2012

Short-range nuclear effects on axion emissivities by nucleon-nucleon bremsstrahlung

The rates of axion emission by nucleon-nucleon (NN) bremsstrahlung are reconsidered by taking into account the NN short range correlations. The analytical formulas for the neutron-neutron (nn), proton-proton (pp) and neutron-proton (np) processes with the inclusion of the full momentum dependence of an one- and two- pion exchange nuclear potentials, in the non-degenerate limit, are explicitly given. We find that the two-pion exchange (short range) effects can give a significant contribution to the emission rates, and are temperature dependent. Other short range nuclear effects like effective nucleon mass, polarization effects and use of correlated wave functions, are discused as well. The trend of all these nuclear effects is to diminish the corresponding axion emission rates. Further, we estimate that the values of the emission rates calculated with the inclusion of all these effects can differ from the corresponding ones derived with constant nuclear matrix elements by a factor of $\sim 24$. This leads to an uncertainty factor of $\sim 4.9$ when extracting bounds of the axion parameters

nucl-th↗

arXiv2011

On kinematical constraints in fermion-antifermion systems

We consider the scattering of fermions off antifermions with spin 1/2 and 3/2. Starting from helicity partial-wave scattering amplitudes we derive transformations that eliminate all kinematical constraints. Such amplitudes are expected to satisfy partial-wave dispersion relations and therefore provide a suitable basis for data analysis and the construction of effective field theories. Our derivation relies on a decomposition of the various scattering amplitudes into suitable sets of invariant functions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

No-core shell model for A = 47 and A = 49

We apply the no-core shell model to the nuclear structure of odd-mass nuclei straddling $^{48}$Ca. Starting with the NN interaction, that fits two-body scattering and bound state data we evaluate the nuclear properties of $A = 47$ and $A = 49$ nuclei while preserving all the underlying symmetries. Due to model space limitations and the absence of 3-body interactions, we incorporate phenomenological interaction terms determined by fits to $A = 48$ nuclei in a previous effort. Our modified Hamiltonian produces reasonable spectra for these odd mass nuclei. In addition to the differences in single-particle basis states, the absence of a single-particle Hamiltonian in our no-core approach complicates comparisons with valence effective NN interactions. We focus on purely off-diagonal two-body matrix elements since they are not affected by ambiguities in the different roles for one-body potentials and we compare selected sets of $fp$-shell matrix elements of our initial and modified Hamiltonians in the harmonic oscillator basis with those of a recent model $fp$-shell interaction, the GXPF1 interaction of Honma, Otsuka, Brown and Mizusaki. While some significant differences emerge from these comparisons, there is an overall reasonably good correlation between our off-diagonal matrix elements and those of GXPF1.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2009

Pion mass effects on axion emission from neutron stars through NN bremsstrahlung processes

The rates of axion emission by nucleon-nucleon bremsstrahlung are calculated with the inclusion of the full momentum contribution from a nuclear one pion exchange (OPE) potential. The contributions of the neutron-neutron (nn), proton-proton (pp) and neutron-proton (np) processes in both the nondegenerate and degenerate limits are explicitly given. We find that the finite momentum corrections to the emissivities are quantitatively significant for the non-degenerate regime and temperature-dependent, and should affect the existing axion mass bounds. The trend of these nuclear effects is to diminish the emissivities.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2009

No-core shell model for 48-Ca, 48-Sc and 48-Ti

We report the first no-core shell model results for $^{48}Ca$, $^{48}Sc$ and $^{48}Ti$ with derived and modified two-body Hamiltonians. We use an oscillator basis with a limited $\hbarΩ$ range around $45/A^{1/3}-25/A^{2/3} = 10.5 MeV$ and a limited model space up to $1\hbarΩ$. No single-particle energies are used. We find that the charge dependence of the bulk binding energy of eight A=48 nuclei is reasonably described with an effective Hamiltonian derived from the CD-Bonn interaction while there is an overall underbinding by about 0.4 MeV/nucleon. However, the resulting spectra exhibit deficiencies that are anticipated due to: (1) basis space limitations and/or the absence of effective many-body interactions; and, (2) the absence of genuine three-nucleon interactions. We then introduce additive isospin-dependent central terms plus a tensor force to our Hamiltonian and achieve accurate binding energies and reasonable spectra for all three nuclei. The resulting no-core shell model opens a path for applications to the double-beta ($ββ$) decay process.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2007

Shell-model calculations of two-neutrino double-beta decay rates of $^{48}$Ca with GXPF1A interaction

The two-neutrino double beta decay matrix elements and half-lives of $^{48}$Ca, are calculated within a shell-model approach for transitions to the ground state and to the $2^+$ first excited state of $^{48}$Ti. We use the full $pf$ model space and the GXPF1A interaction, which was recently proposed to describe the spectroscopic properties of the nuclei in the nuclear mass region A=47-66. Our results are $T_{1/2}(0^{+}\to 0^{+})$ = $3.3\times 10^{19}$ $yr$ and $T_{1/2}(0^{+}\to 2^{+})$ = $8.5\times 10^{23}$ $yr$. The result for the decay to the $^{48}$Ti 0$^+$ ground state is in good agreement with experiment. The half-life for the decay to the 2$^+$ state is two orders of magnitude larger than obtained previously.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2006

No-Core shell model for A = 47 and A = 49

We apply an {\it ab-initio} approach to the nuclear structure of odd-mass nuclei straddling $^{48}Ca$. Starting with the NN interaction, that fits two-body scattering and bound state data we evaluate the nuclear properties of $A = 47$ and $A = 49$ nuclei in a no-core approach. Due to model space limitations and the absence of 3-body interactions, we incorporate phenomenological terms determined by fits to $A = 48$ nuclei in a previous effort. Our modified Hamiltonian produces reasonable spectra for these odd mass nuclei. In addition to the differences in single-particle basis states, the absence of a single-particle Hamiltonian in our no-core approach obscures direct comparisons with valence effective NN interactions. Nevertheless, we compare the fp-shell matrix elements of our initial and modified Hamiltonians in the harmonic oscillator basis with a recent model fp-shell interaction, the GXPF1 interaction of Honma, Otsuka, Brown and Mizusaki. Notable differences emerge from these comparisons. In particular, our diagonal two-body $T = 0$ matrix elements are, on average, about 800-900keV more attractive. Furthermore, while our initial and modified NN Hamiltonian fp-shell matrix elements are strongly correlated, there is much less correlation with the GXPF1 matrix elements.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2001

Nuclear Effects on Bremsstrahlung Neutrino Rates of Astrophysical Interest

We calculate in this work the rates for the neutrino pair production by nucleon-nucleon bremsstrahlung taking into account the full contribution from a nuclear one-pion-exchange potential. It is shown that if the temperatures are low enough ($T \leq 20 MeV$), the integration over the nuclear part can be done for the general case, ranging from the completely degenerate (D) to the non-degenerate (ND) regime. We find that the inclusion of the full nuclear contribution enhances the neutrino pair production by $nn$ and $pp$ bremsstrahlung by a factor of about two in both the D and ND limits when compared with previous calculations. This result may be relevant for the physical conditions of interest in the semitransparent regions near the neutrinosphere in type II supernovae, cooling of neutron stars and other astrophysical situations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2000

Double-beta decay matrix elements for Ge-76

Double-beta decay matrix elements (ME) for $^{76}Ge$ are calculated with different quasi random phase approximation (QRPA)-based methods. First, the ME for the two-neutrino mode are computed using two choices for the single particle (s.p.) basis: i) $2-4\hbarω$ full shells and ii) $3-4\hbarω$ full shells. When calculated with the renormalized QRPA (RQRPA) and full-RQRPA their values are rather dependent on the size of the single particle basis used, while calculated with proton-neutron QRPA (pnQRPA) and second-QRPA approaches such a dependence was found to be small. The Ikeda sum rule was well fulfilled within pnQRPA for both choices of the s.p. basis and with a good approximation within second-QRPA, while the RQRPA and full-RQRPA methods give deviations up to 21%. Further, the ME for the neutrinoless mode are calculated with the pnQRPA, RQRPA and full-RQRPA methods. They all give close results for the calculation with the smaller basis (i), while for the larger basis (ii), the results differ significantly either from one method to another or within the same method. Finally, using the most recent experimental limit for the $0νββ$ decay half-life of $^{76}Ge$ a critical discussion on the upper limits for the neutrino mass parameter obtained with different theoretical approaches is given.

nucl-th↗

arXiv1998

H-dibaryons and Primordial Nucleosynthesis

The apparent discrepancy between abundances of light nuclides predicted by the standard Big-Bang and observational data is explained, by assuming the presence of metastable H dibaryons at the nucleosynthesis era. These dibaryons could be formed out of a small fraction of strange quarks at the moment of the confinement transition. For a primordial deuterium abundance of the order of 3 10^{-5}, the measured differences in the 4He abundances requires a relative abundance of H dibaryons of the order of n_H/n_B = 0.07, decaying in a timescale of the order of 10^5 s.

astro-ph↗