arXiv subjects

X. Roca-Maza

Publications and source records attributed to X. Roca-Maza.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Theoretical calculations for precision polarimetry based on Mott scattering

Electron polarimeters based on Mott scattering are extensively used in different fields in physics such as atomic, nuclear or particle physics. This is because spin-dependent measurements gives additional information on the physical processes under study. The main quantity that needs to be understood in very much detail, both experimentally and theoretically, is the spin-polarization function, so called analyzing power or Sherman function. A detailed theoretical analysis on all the contributions to the effective interaction potential that are relevant at the typical electron beam energies and angles commonly used in the calibration of the experimental apparatus is presented. The main contribution leading the theoretical error on the Sherman function is found to correspond to radiative corrections that have been qualitatively estimated to be below the 0.5% for the considered kinematical conditions: unpolarized electron beams of few MeV elastically scattered from a gold and silver targets at backward angles.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2017

Towards a self-consistent dynamical nuclear model

Density Functional Theory (DFT) is a powerful and accurate tool exploited in Nuclear Physics to investigate the ground-state and some collective properties of nuclei along the whole nuclear chart. Models based on DFT are, however, not suitable for the description of single-particle dynamics in nuclei. Following the field theoretical approach by A. Bohr and B. R. Mottelson to describe nuclear interactions between single-particle and vibrational degrees of freedom, we have undertaken important steps to build a microscopic dynamic nuclear model. In connection to that, one important issue that needs to be better understood is the renormalization of the effective interaction in the particle-vibration approach. One possible way to renormalize the interaction is the so called {\it subtraction method}. In this contribution we will implement the {\it subtraction method} for the first time in our model and study its consequences.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Relativistic mean field interaction with density dependent meson-nucleon vertices based on microscopical calculations

Although ab-initio calculations of relativistic Brueckner theory lead to large scalar isovector fields in nuclear matter, at present, successful versions of covariant density functional theory neglect the interactions in this channel. A new high precision density functional DD-ME$δ$ is presented which includes four mesons $σ$, $ω$, $δ$, and $ρ$ with density dependent meson-nucleon couplings. It is based to a large extent on microscopic ab-initio calculations in nuclear matter. Only four of its parameters are determined by adjusting to binding energies and charge radii of finite nuclei. The other parameters, in particular the density dependence of the meson-nucleon vertices, are adjusted to non-relativistic and relativistic Brueckner calculations of symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter. The isovector effective mass $m_{p}^{\ast}-m_{n}^{\ast}$ derived from relativistic Brueckner theory is used to determine the coupling strength of the $δ$-meson and its density dependence.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Model dependence of the neutron-skin thickness on the symmetry energy

The model dependence in the correlations of the neutron-skin thickness in heavy nuclei with various symmetry energy parameters is analyzed by using several families of systematically varied microscopic mean field models. Such correlations show a varying degree of model dependence once the results for all the different families are combined. Some mean field models associated with similar values of the symmetry energy slope parameter at saturation density $L$, and pertaining to different families, yield a greater-than-expected spread in the neutron-skin thickness of the $^{208}$Pb nucleus. The effective value of the symmetry energy slope parameter $L_{\rm eff}$, determined by using the nucleon density profiles of the finite nucleus and the density derivative $S^\prime(ρ)$ of the symmetry energy starting from about saturation density up to low densities typical of the surface of nuclei, seems to account for the spread in the neutron-skin thickness for the models with similar $L$. The differences in the values of $L_{\rm eff}$ are mainly due to the small differences in the nucleon density distributions of heavy nuclei in the surface region and the behavior of the symmetry energy at subsaturation densities.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Second--order equation of state with the Skyrme interaction. Cutoff and dimensional regularization with the inclusion of rearrangement terms

We evaluate the second--order (beyond--mean--field) contribution to the equation of state of nuclear matter with the effective Skyrme force and use cutoff and dimensional regularizations to treat the ultraviolet divergence produced by the zero--range character of this interaction. An adjustment of the force parameters is then performed in both cases to remove any double counting generated by the explicit computation of beyond--mean--field corrections with the Skyrme force. In addition, we include at second order the rearrangement terms associated to the density--dependent part of the Skyrme force and discuss their effect. Sets of parameters are proposed to define new effective forces which are specially designed for second--order calculations in nuclear matter.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

The neutron skin thickness from the measured electric dipole polarizability in $^{68}$Ni, $^{120}$Sn, and $^{208}$Pb

The information on the symmetry energy and its density dependence is deduced by comparing the available data on the electric dipole polarizability $α_D$ of ${}^{68}$Ni, ${}^{120}$Sn, and ${}^{208}$Pb with the predictions of the Random Phase Approximation, using a representative set of nuclear energy density functionals. The calculated values of $α_D$ are used to validate different correlations involving $α_D$, the symmetry energy at the saturation density $J$, the corresponding slope parameter $L$ and the neutron skin thickness $Δr_{\!np}$, as suggested by the Droplet Model. A subset of models that reproduce simultaneously the measured polarizabilities in ${}^{68}$Ni, ${}^{120}$Sn, and ${}^{208}$Pb are employed to predict the values of the symmetry energy parameters at saturation density and $Δr_{\!np}$. The resulting intervals are: $J\!=\!30 \text{-}35$ MeV, $L\!=\!20 \text{-} 66$ MeV; and the values for $Δr_{\!np}$ in ${}^{68}$Ni, ${}^{120}$Sn, and ${}^{208}$Pb are in the ranges: 0.15\text{-}0.19 fm, 0.12\text{-}0.16 fm, and 0.13\text{-}0.19 fm, respectively. The strong correlation between the electric dipole polarizabilities of two nuclei is instrumental to predict the values of electric dipole polarizabilities in other nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Outer crust of a cold non-accreting magnetar

The outer crust structure and composition of a cold, non-accreting magnetar is studied. We model the outer crust to be made of fully equilibrated matter where ionized nuclei form a Coulomb crystal embedded in an electron gas. The main effects of the strong magnetic field are those of quantizing the electron motion in Landau levels and of modifying the nuclear single particle levels producing, on average, an increased binding of nucleons in nuclei present in the Coulomb lattice. The effect of an homogeneous and constant magnetic field on nuclear masses has been predicted by using a covariant density functional, in which induced currents and axial deformation due to the presence of a magnetic field that breaks time-reversal symmetry have been included self-consistently in the nucleon and meson equations of motion. Although not yet observed, for $B\gtrsim 10^{16}$G both effects contribute to produce different compositions and to enlarge the range of pressures typically present in common neutron stars. Specifically, in such a regime, the magnetic field effects on nuclei favor the appearance of heavier nuclei at low pressures. As $B$ increases, such heavier nuclei are also preferred up to larger pressures. In the most extreme case, the whole outer crust is almost made of ${}_{40}^{92}$Zr$_{52}$.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Constraints on the Neutron Skin and the Symmetry Energy from the Anti-analog Giant Dipole Resonance in 208Pb

We investigate the impact of the neutron-skin thickness Delta(R) on the energy difference between the anti-analog giant dipole resonance (AGDR), E(AGDR), and the isobaric analog state (IAS), E(IAS), in a heavy nucleus such as 208Pb. For guidance, we first develop a simple and analytic, yet physical, approach based on the Droplet Model that linearly connects the energy difference E(AGDR)-E(IAS) with Delta(R). To test this correlation on more fundamental grounds, we employ a family of systematically varied Skyrme energy density functionals where variations on the value of the symmetry energy at saturation density J are explored. The calculations have been performed within the fully self consistent Hartree-Fock (HF) plus charge-exchange random phase approximation (RPA) framework. We confirm the linear correlation within our microscopic apporach and, by comparing our results with available experimental data in 208Pb, we find that our analysis is consistent with Delta(R) = 0.204 \pm 0.009 fm, J = 31.4 \pm 0.5 MeV and a slope parameter of the symmetry energy at saturation of L = 76.4 \pm 5.4 MeV - the attached errors correspond to a lower-limit estimate of the systematic plus experimental uncertainties. These results are in agreement with those extracted from different experimental data albeit, L and Delta(R) are somewhat large when compared to previous estimations based on giant resonance studies.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

The nuclear symmetry energy and other isovector observables from the point of view of nuclear structure

In this contribution, we review some works related with the extraction of the symmetry energy parameters from isovector nuclear excitations, like the giant resonances. Then, we move to the general issue of how to assess whether correlations between a parameter of the nuclear equation of state and a nuclear observable are robust or not. To this aim, we introduce the covariance analysis and we discuss some counter-intuitive, yet enlightening, results from it.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Covariance analysis for Energy Density Functionals and instabilities

We present the covariance analysis of two successful nuclear energy density functionals, (i) a non-relativistic Skyrme functional built from a zero-range effective interaction, and (ii) a relativistic nuclear energy density functional based on density dependent meson-nucleon couplings. The covariance analysis is a useful tool for understanding the limitations of a model, the correlations between observables and the statistical errors. We show, for our selected test nucleus 208Pb, that when the constraint on a property A included in the fit is relaxed, correlations with other observables B become larger; on the other hand, when a strong constraint is imposed on A, the correlations with other properties become very small. We also provide a brief review, partly connected with the covariance analysis, of some instabilities displayed by several energy density functionals currently used in nuclear physics.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Covariance analysis of finite temperature density functional theory: symmetric nuclear matter

We study symmetric nuclear matter at finite temperature, with particular emphasis on the liquid-gas phase transition. We use a standard covariance analysis to propagate statistical uncertainties from the density functional to the thermodynamic properties. We use four functionals with known covariance matrices to obtain as wide a set of results as possible. Our findings suggest that thermodynamical properties are very well constrained by fitting data at zero temperature. The propagated statistical errors in the liquid-gas phase transition parameters are relatively small.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Influence of the single-particle structure on the nuclear surface and the neutron skin

We analyze the influence of the single-particle structure on the neutron density distribution and the neutron skin in Ca, Ni, Zr, Sn, and Pb isotopes. The nucleon density distributions are calculated in the Hartree-Fock+BCS approach with the SLy4 Skyrme force. A close correlation is found between the quantum numbers of the valence neutrons and the changes in the position and the diffuseness of the nuclear surface, which in turn affect the neutron skin thickness. Neutrons in the valence orbitals with low principal quantum number and high angular momentum mainly displace the position of the neutron surface outwards, while neutrons with high principal quantum number and low angular momentum basically increase the diffuseness of the neutron surface. The impact of the valence shell neutrons on the tail of the neutron density distribution is discussed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Nuclear charge-exchange excitations in localized covariant density functional theory

The recent progress in the studies of nuclear charge-exchange excitations with localized covariant density functional theory is briefly presented, by taking the fine structure of spin-dipole excitations in 16O as an example. It is shown that the constraints introduced by the Fock terms of the relativistic Hartree-Fock scheme into the particle-hole residual interactions are straightforward and robust.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Electric Dipole Polarizability in ${}^{208}$Pb: insights from the Droplet Model

We study the electric dipole polarizability $α_D$ in ${}^{208}$Pb based on the predictions of a large and representative set of relativistic and non-relativistic nuclear mean field models. We adopt the droplet model as a guide to better understand the correlations between $α_D$ and other isovector observables. Insights from the droplet model suggest that the product of $α_D$ and the nuclear symmetry energy at saturation density $J$ is much better correlated with the neutron skin thickness $Δr_{np}$ of ${}^{208}$Pb than the polarizability alone. Correlations of $α_D J$ with $Δr_{np}$ and with the symmetry energy slope parameter $L$ suggest that $α_D J$ is a strong isovector indicator. Hence, we explore the possibility of constraining the isovector sector of thenuclear energy density functional by comparing our theoretical predictions against measurements of both $α_D$ and the parity-violating asymmetry in ${}^{208}$Pb. We find that the recent experimental determination of $α_D$ in ${}^{208}$Pb in combination with the range for the symmetry energy at saturation density $J=[31\pm (2)_{\rm est.}]$\,MeV suggests $Δr_{np}({}^{208}{\rm Pb}) = 0.165 \pm (0.009)_{\rm exp.} \pm (0.013)_{\rm theo.} \pm (0.021)_{\rm est.} {\rm fm}$ and $L= 43 \pm(6)_{\rm exp.} \pm (8)_{\rm theo.}\pm(12)_{\rm est.}$ MeV.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Density dependence of the symmetry energy from neutron skin thickness in finite nuclei

The density dependence of the symmetry energy around saturation density, characterized by the slope parameter L, is studied using information provided by the neutron skin thickness in finite nuclei. An estimate for L is obtained from experimental data on neutron skins extracted from antiprotonic atoms. We also discuss the ability of parity-violating elastic electron scattering to obtain information on the neutron skin thickness in 208Pb and to constrain the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. The size and shape of the neutron density distribution of 208Pb predicted by mean-field models is briefly addressed. We conclude with a comparative overview of the L values predicted by several existing determinations.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

A microscopic model beyond mean-field: from giant resonances properties to the fit of new effective interactions

A completely microscopic beyond mean-field approach has been elaborated to overcome some intrinsic limitations of self-consistent mean-field schemes applied to nuclear systems, such as the incapability to produce some properties of single-particle states (e.g. spectroscopic factors), as well as of collective states (e.g. their damping width and their gamma decay to the ground state or to low lying states). Since commonly used effective interactions are fitted at the mean-field level, one should aim at refitting them including the desired beyond mean-field contributions in the refitting procedure. If zero-range interactions are used, divergences arise. We present some steps towards the refitting of Skyrme interactions, for its application in finite nuclei.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Nuclear Symmetry Energy: constraints from Giant Quadrupole Resonances and Parity Violating Electron Scattering

Experimental and theoretical efforts are being devoted to the study of observables that can shed light on the properties of the nuclear symmetry energy. We present our new results on the excitation energy [X. Roca-Maza et al., Phys. Rev. C 87, 034301 (2013)] and polarizability of the Isovector Giant Quadrupole Resonance (IVGQR), which has been the object of new experimental investigation [S. S. Henshaw et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 222501 (2011)]. We also present our theoretical analysis on the parity violating asymmetry at the kinematics of the Lead Radius Experiment [S. Abrahamyan et al. (PREx Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 112502 (2012)] and highlight its relation with the density dependence of the symmetry energy [X. Roca-Maza et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 252501 (2011)].

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

A beyond-mean-field example with zero-range effective interactions in infinite nuclear matter

Zero-range effective interactions are commonly used in nuclear physics to describe a many-body system in the mean-field framework. If they are employed in beyond- mean-field models, an artificial ultraviolet divergence is generated by the zero-range of the interaction. We analyze this problem in symmetric nuclear matter with the t0-t3 Skyrme model. In this case, the second-order energy correction diverges linearly with the momentum cutoff. After that, we extend the work to the case of nuclear matter with the full Skyrme interaction. A strong divergence related to the velocity-dependent terms of the interaction is obtained. Moreover, a global fit can be simultaneously performed for both symmetric and nuclear matter with different neutron-to-proton ratios. These results pave the way for applications to finite nuclei in the framework of beyond mean-field theories.

nucl-th↗