arXiv subjects

Steven C. Pieper

Publications and source records attributed to Steven C. Pieper.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Charge form factor and sum rules of electromagnetic response functions in Carbon-12

An "ab initio" calculation of the Carbon-12 elastic form factor, and sum rules of longitudinal and transverse response functions measured in inclusive (e,e') scattering, is reported, based on realistic nuclear potentials and electromagnetic currents. The longitudinal elastic form factor and sum rule are found to be in satisfactory agreement with available experimental data. A direct comparison between theory and experiment is difficult for the transverse sum rule. However, it is shown that the calculated one has large contributions from two-body currents, indicating that these mechanisms lead to a significant enhancement of the quasi-elastic transverse response. This fact may have implications for the anomaly observed in recent neutrino quasi-elastic charge-changing scattering data off Carbon-12.

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arXiv2013

Computational Nuclear Quantum Many-Body Problem: The UNEDF Project

The UNEDF project was a large-scale collaborative effort that applied high-performance computing to the nuclear quantum many-body problem. UNEDF demonstrated that close associations among nuclear physicists, mathematicians, and computer scientists can lead to novel physics outcomes built on algorithmic innovations and computational developments. This review showcases a wide range of UNEDF science results to illustrate this interplay.

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arXiv2013

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of electromagnetic moments and transitions in A <= 9 nuclei with meson-exchange currents derived from chiral effective field theory

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of electromagnetic moments and transitions are reported for A <= 9 nuclei. The realistic Argonne v18 two-nucleon and Illinois-7 three-nucleon potentials are used to generate the nuclear wave functions. Contributions of two-body meson-exchange current (MEC) operators are included for magnetic moments and M1 transitions. The MEC operators have been derived in both a standard nuclear physics approach and a chiral effective field theory formulation with pions and nucleons including up to one-loop corrections. The two-body MEC contributions provide significant corrections and lead to very good agreement with experiment. Their effect is particularly pronounced in the A=9, T=3/2 systems, in which they provide up to 20% (40 %) of the total predicted value for the 9Li (9C) magnetic moment.

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arXiv2013

GFMC calculations of electromagnetic moments and M1 transitions in $A\leq 9$ nuclei

We present recent Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of magnetic moments and M1 transitions in $A \leq 9$ nuclei, which include corrections arising from two-body meson-exchange electromagnetic currents. Two-body effects provide significant corrections to the calculated observables, bringing them in excellent agreement with the experimental data. In particular, we find that two-body corrections are especially large in the A=9, $T=3/2$ systems, in which they account for up to $\sim 20%$ ($\sim 40 %$) of the total predicted value for the $^9$Li ($^9$C) magnetic moment.

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arXiv2013

Properties of trapped neutrons interacting with realistic nuclear Hamiltonians

We calculate properties of neutron drops in external potentials using both quantum Monte Carlo and no-core full configuration techniques. The properties of the external wells are varied to examine different density profiles. We compare neutron drop results given by a selection of nuclear Hamiltonians, including realistic two-body interactions as well as several three-body forces. We compute a range of properties for the neutron drops: ground-state energies, spin-orbit splittings, excitation energies, radial densities and rms radii. We compare the equations of state for neutron matter for several of these Hamiltonians. Our results can be used as benchmarks to test other many-body techniques, and to constrain properties of energy-density functionals.

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arXiv2012

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of magnetic moments and M1 transitions in $A \le 9$ nuclei

We present Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of magnetic moments and M1 transitions in $A\le 9$ nuclei which take into account contributions of two-body electromagnetic currents. The Hamiltonian utilized to generate the nuclear wave functions includes the realistic Argonne-{\it v}$_{18}$ two-nucleon and the Illinois-7 three-nucleon interactions. The nuclear two-body electromagnetic currents are derived from a pionful chiral effective field theory including up to one-loop corrections. These currents involve unknown Low Energy Constants which have been fixed so as to reproduce a number of experimental data for the two- and three-nucleon systems, such as $np$ phase shifts and deuteron, triton, and $^3$He magnetic moments. This preliminary study shows that two-body contributions provide significant corrections which are crucial to bring the theory in agreement with the experimental data in both magnetic moments and M1 transitions.

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arXiv2012

On the lifetime of the 2+ state in 10C

The lifetime of the J=2+ state in 10C was measured using the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method following the inverse kinematics p(10B,n)10C reaction at 95 MeV. The 2+ state, at 3354 keV, has tau = 219\pm(7)stat \pm(10)sys fs corresponding to a B(E2) # of 8.8(3) e2fm4. This measurement,combined with that recently determined for 10Be (9.2(3) e2fm4), provides a unique challenge to abinitio calculations, testing the structure of these states, including the isospin symmetry of the wave functions. Quantum Monte Carlo calculations using realistic two- and three-nucleon Hamiltonians that reproduce the 10Be B(E2) value generally predict a larger 10C B(E2) probability but with considerable sensitivity to the admixture of different spatial symmetry components in the wave functions, and to the three-nucleon potential used.

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arXiv2011

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of spectroscopic overlaps in $A \leq 7$ nuclei

We present Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of spectroscopic overlaps for $A \leq 7$ nuclei. The realistic Argonne v18 two-nucleon and Illinois-7 three-nucleon interactions are used to generate the nuclear states. The overlap matrix elements are extrapolated from mixed estimates between variational Monte Carlo and Green's function Monte Carlo wave functions. The overlap functions are used to obtain spectroscopic factors and asymptotic normalization coefficients, and they can serve as an input for low-energy reaction calculations.

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arXiv2011

Cold neutrons trapped in external fields

The properties of inhomogeneous neutron matter are crucial to the physics of neutron-rich nuclei and the crust of neutron stars. Advances in computational techniques now allow us to accurately determine the binding energies and densities of many neutrons interacting via realistic microscopic interactions and confined in external fields. We perform calculations for different external fields and across several shells to place important constraints on inhomogeneous neutron matter, and hence the large isospin limit of the nuclear energy density functionals that are used to predict properties of heavy nuclei and neutron star crusts. We find important differences between microscopic calculations and current density functionals; in particular the isovector gradient terms are significantly more repulsive than in traditional models, and the spin-orbit and pairing forces are comparatively weaker.

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arXiv2009

Precise electromagnetic tests of ab-initio calculations of light nuclei: States in $^{10}$Be

In order to test {\it ab-initio} calculations of light nuclei, we have remeasured lifetimes in $^{10}$Be using the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM) following the $^{7}$Li($^7$Li,$α$)$^{10}$Be reaction at 8 and 10 MeV. The new experiments significantly reduce systematic uncertainties in the DSAM technique. The J$^π$ = $2^+_1$ state at 3.37 MeV has $τ$ = 205${\pm}$(5)$_{stat}\pm$(7)$_{sys}$ fs corresponding to a $B$($E2\downarrow$) of 9.2(3) $e^2$fm$^4$ in broad agreement with many calculations. The J$^π$ = $2^+_2$ state at 5.96 MeV was found to have a $B$($E2\downarrow$) of 0.11(2) $e^2$fm$^4$ and provides a more discriminating test of nuclear models. New Green's Function Monte Carlo (GFMC) calculations for these states and transitions with a number of Hamiltonians are also reported and compared to experiment.

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arXiv2008

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of magnetic moments and M1 transitions in A<=7 nuclei including meson-exchange currents

Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of magnetic moments and M1 transitions including two-body meson-exchange current (MEC) contributions are reported for A<=7 nuclei. The realistic Argonne v18 two-nucleon and Illinois-2 three-nucleon potentials are used to generate the nuclear wave functions. The two-body meson-exchange operators are constructed to satisfy the continuity equation with the Argonne v18 potential. The MEC contributions increase the A=3,7 isovector magnetic moments by 16% and the A=6,7 M1 transition rates by 17--34%, bringing them into very good agreement with the experimental data.

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arXiv2008

Dependence of two-nucleon momentum densities on total pair momentum

Two-nucleon momentum distributions are calculated for the ground states of 3He and 4He as a function of the nucleons' relative and total momenta. We use variational Monte Carlo wave functions derived from a realistic Hamiltonian with two- and three-nucleon potentials. The momentum distribution of pp pairs is found to be much smaller than that of pn pairs for values of the relative momentum in the range (300--500) MeV/c and vanishing total momentum. However, as the total momentum increases to 400 MeV/c, the ratio of pp to pn pairs in this relative momentum range grows and approaches the limit 1/2 for 3He and 1/4 for 4He, corresponding to the ratio of pp to pn pairs in these nuclei. This behavior should be easily observable in two-nucleon knock-out processes, such as A(e,e'pN).

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arXiv2007

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of electroweak transition matrix elements in A = 6,7 nuclei

Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole, Fermi, and Gamow-Teller transition matrix elements are reported for A=6,7 nuclei. The matrix elements are extrapolated from mixed estimates that bracket the relevant electroweak operator between variational Monte Carlo and GFMC propagated wave functions. Because they are off-diagonal terms, two mixed estimates are required for each transition, with a VMC initial (final) state paired with a GFMC final (initial) state. The realistic Argonne v18 two-nucleon and Illinois-2 three-nucleon interactions are used to generate the nuclear states. In most cases we find good agreement with experimental data.

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arXiv2007

Quantum Monte Carlo Calculations of Light Nuclei

During the last 15 years, there has been much progress in defining the nuclear Hamiltonian and applying quantum Monte Carlo methods to the calculation of light nuclei. I describe both aspects of this work and some recent results.

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arXiv2006

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of neutron-alpha scattering

We describe a new method to treat low-energy scattering problems in few-nucleon systems, and we apply it to the five-body case of neutron-alpha scattering. The method allows precise calculations of low-lying resonances and their widths. We find that a good three-nucleon interaction is crucial to obtain an accurate description of neutron-alpha scattering.

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arXiv2006

Tensor Forces and the Ground-State Structure of Nuclei

Two-nucleon momentum distributions are calculated for the ground states of nuclei with mass number $A\leq 8$, using variational Monte Carlo wave functions derived from a realistic Hamiltonian with two- and three-nucleon potentials. The momentum distribution of $np$ pairs is found to be much larger than that of $pp$ pairs for values of the relative momentum in the range (300--600) MeV/c and vanishing total momentum. This order of magnitude difference is seen in all nuclei considered and has a universal character originating from the tensor components present in any realistic nucleon-nucleon potential. The correlations induced by the tensor force strongly influence the structure of $np$ pairs, which are predominantly in deuteron-like states, while they are ineffective for $pp$ pairs, which are mostly in $^1$S$_0$ states. These features should be easily observable in two-nucleon knock-out processes, such as $A(e,e^\prime np)$ and $A(e,e^\prime pp)$.

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arXiv2004

Quantum Monte Carlo Calculations of Light Nuclei

Variational Monte Carlo and Green's function Monte Carlo are powerful tools for calculations of properties of light nuclei using realistic two-nucleon and three-nucleon potentials. Recently the GFMC method has been extended to multiple states with the same quantum numbers. The combination of the Argonne v_18 two-nucleon and Illinois-2 three-nucleon potentials gives a good prediction of many energies of nuclei up to 12C. A number of other recent results are presented: comparison of binding energies with those obtained by the no-core shell model; the incompatibility of modern nuclear Hamiltonians with a bound tetra-neutron; difficulties in computing RMS radii of very weakly bound nuclei, such as 6He; center-of-mass effects on spectroscopic factors; and the possible use of an artificial external well in calculations of neutron-rich isotopes.

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arXiv2004

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of excited states in A = 6--8 nuclei

A variational Monte Carlo method is used to generate sets of orthogonal trial functions, Psi_T(J^pi,T), for given quantum numbers in various light p-shell nuclei. These Psi_T are then used as input to Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of first, second, and higher excited (J^pi,T) states. Realistic two- and three-nucleon interactions are used. We find that if the physical excited state is reasonably narrow, the GFMC energy converges to a stable result. With the combined Argonne v_18 two-nucleon and Illinois-2 three-nucleon interactions, the results for many second and higher states in A = 6--8 nuclei are close to the experimental values.

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