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X. Viñas

Publications and source records attributed to X. Viñas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nuclear surface energy in a semiclassical Extended Thomas-Fermi approach with finite-range interactions

Using the Gogny finite-range interaction, we investigate a series of semiclassical approximations to the Fock term entering the calculation of the nuclear surface energy. By comparing these approximations with the exact results obtained from the full Hartree-Fock solution in semi-infinite nuclear matter, we derive a simple pocket formula that can be incorporated into fitting protocols to estimate the surface energy coefficient with excellent accuracy.

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Half-vortex states in the rotating outer core of neutron stars

We probe the superfluid-superconductor dynamics of the rotating outer core of neutron stars through half-vortex states. By means of a generalized hydrodynamic model, where proton and neutron fluids are coupled by both dynamic entrainment and Skyrme SLy4 nucleon-nucleon interactions, we analyze single flux tubes in the proton-superconductor component of the system that thread proton vortices located faraway from neutron vortices. It is shown how they give rise to hydrodynamic perturbations in the coexisting neutron superfluid, and its structure remains unaltered for varying rotation rates and magnetic fields within ranges of observational values.

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Equation of State of Hot Neutron Star Matter using Finite Range Simple Effective Interaction

The equation of state of hot neutron star matter of n+p+e+$μ$ composition in $β$-equilibrium is studied for both neutrino-free isothermal and neutrino-trapped isentropic conditions, using the formalism where the thermal evolution is built upon its zero-temperature predictions in a self-consistent manner. The accuracy of the parabolic approximation, often used in the finite temperature calculation of hot neutron star matter, is verified by comparing with the results obtained from the exact evaluation in the neutrino-free neutron star matter. The equation of state of neutrino-trapped isentropic matter at low entropic condition, relevant to the core-collapsing supernovae, is formulated. In the isentropic matter, the particle fractions and equation of state have marginal variance as entropy per particle varies between 1 to 3 (in the unit of k$_B$), but the temperature profile shows marked variation. The isentropes are found to be much less sensitive to the nuclear matter incompressibility, but have a large dependence on the slope parameter L. The bulk properties of the neutron stars predicted by the isentropic equation of state for different entropy are calculated. A model calculation for the early stage evolution of the protoneutron star to neutron star configuration is also given.

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Correlations between charge radii differences of mirror nuclei and stellar observables

The correlation between the charge radii differences in mirror nuclei pairs and the neutron skin thickness has been studied with the so-called finite range simple effective interaction over a wide mass region. The so far precisely measured charge radii difference data within their experimental uncertainty ranges in the 34Ar-34S, 36Ca-36S, 38Ca-38Ar, and 54Ni-54Fe mirror pairs are used to ascertain an upper limit for the slope parameter of the nuclear symmetry energy L $\approx$ 100 MeV. This limiting value of L is found to be consistent with the upper bound of the NICER PSR J0740+6620 constraint at 1$σ$ level for the radius R$_{1.4}$ of 1.4 M$_\odot$ neutron stars. The lower bound of the NICER R$_{1.4}$ data constrains the lower limit of L to $\approx$ 70 MeV. Within the range for L = 70-100 MeV the tidal deformability $Λ^{1.4}$ constraint, which is extracted from the GW170817 event at 2$σ$ level, and the recent PREX-2 and CREX data on the neutron skin thickness are discussed.

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Light projectile elastic scattering by nuclei described by the Gogny interaction

In this work, we study the elastic scattering of some light particles, such as $^2$H, $^3$H, $^3$He, and $^4$He, by heavy target nuclei with an extended Watanabe model, which uses as input the neutron-nucleus and proton-nucleus optical potentials and the ground-state wave functions of the projectile. The nucleon-nucleus optical potential used in this work was obtained within a semi-microscopic nuclear matter approach, whose real and imaginary parts are provided by the first and second-order terms, respectively, of the Taylor expansion of the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock mass operator obtained with the reaction G-matrix built up with the Gogny force \cite{lopez21}. The angular distributions of the scattering of $^2$H, $^3$H, $^3$He, and $^4$He from different target nuclei and at a different incident energy of the projectile computed with this model are analyzed. The reaction cross-sections corresponding to some of these scattering processes are also calculated. Our results are compared with the experimental values as well as with another Watanabe calculation where the nucleon-nucleus the optical potential is provided by the phenomenological Köning-Delaroche model. The limitations of the extended Watanabe model used in this work are also discussed.

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The finite range simple effective interaction including tensor terms

The prediction of single particle level crossing phenomenon between $2p_{3/2}$ and $1f_{5/2}$ orbitals in $Ni$- and $Cu$-isotopic chains by the finite range simple effective interaction without requiring the tensor part is discussed. In this case the experimentally observed crossing could be studied as a function of nuclear matter incompressibility, $K(ρ_0)$. The estimated crossing for the neutron number $N$=46 could be reproduced by the equation of state corresponding to $K(ρ_0)$=240 MeV. However, the observed proton gaps between the $1h_{11/2}$ and $1g_{7/2}$ shells in $Sn$ and $Sb$ isotopic chain, and the neutron gaps between the $1i_{13/2}$ and $1h_{9/2}$ shells in $N$=82 isotones, as well as the shell closure properties at $N$=28 require explicit consideration of a tensor part as the central contribution is not enough to initiate the required level splittings.

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The N=50 and Z=28 shell closure revisited

Recent experiments performed in neutron-rich copper isotopes have revealed a crossing in the nucleus $^{75}$Cu between the $3/2^-$ and $5/2^-$ levels, which correspond to the ground-state and the first excited state in isotopes with mass number below $A =75$. Due to the strong single-particle character of these states, this scenario can be investigated through the analysis of the proton spectrum provided by mean-field models in nickel isotopes with neutron numbers between $N$=40 and $N$=50. In this work we show that the aforementioned crossing is mainly driven by the mean-field provided by the effective nucleon-nucleon and spin-orbit interactions. We also analyze the impact of the tensor interaction, and find that in some mean-field models it is essential to reproduce the crossing of the 2$p_{3/2}$ and 1$f_{5/2}$ proton single-particle levels, as in the case of the SAMi-T Skyrme force and the D1M Gogny interaction, whereas in other cases, as for example the SLy5 Skyrme force, a reasonable tensor force appears to be unable to modify the mean-field enough to reproduce this level crossing. Finally, in the calculations performed with the so-called simple effective interaction (SEI), it is shown that the experimental data in nickel and copper isotopes considered in this work can be explained satisfactorily without any explicit consideration of the tensor interaction.

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Microscopic-Macroscopic Approach for Ground-State Energies Based on the Gogny Force with the Wigner-Kirkwood Averaging Scheme

In the previous paper I \cite{bhagwat20} we have shown that self-consistent Extended Thomas-Fermi (ETF) potentials and densities associated with a given finite-range interaction can be parametrized by generalized Fermi distributions. As a next step, a comprehensive calculation of ground-state properties of a large number of spherical and deformed even-even nuclei is carried out in the present work using the Gogny D1S force within the ETF scheme. The parametrized ETF potentials and densities of paper I are used to calculate the smooth part of the energy and the shell corrections within the Wigner-Kirkwood semiclassical averaging scheme. It is shown that the shell corrections thus obtained, along with a simple liquid drop prescription, yield a good description of ground-state masses and potential energy surfaces for nuclei spanning the entire periodic table.

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Roton instabilities in the superfluid outer core of neutron stars

We study the superfluid dynamics of the outer core of neutron stars by means of a hydrodynamic model made of a neutronic superfluid and a protonic superconductor, coupled by both the dynamic entrainment and the Skyrme SLy4 nucleon-nucleon interactions. The resulting nonlinear equations of motion are probed in the search for dynamical instabilities triggered by the relative motion of the superfluids that could be related to observed timing anomalies in pulsars. Through linear analysis, the origin and expected growth of the instabilities is explored for varying nuclear-matter density. Differently from previous findings, the dispersion of linear excitations in our model shows rotonic structures below the pair-breaking energy threshold, which lies at the origin of the dynamical instabilities, and could eventually lead to emergent vorticity along with modulations of the superfluid density.

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Structure and composition of inner crust of neutron stars from Gogny interactions

The detailed knowledge of the inner crust properties of neutron stars might be important to explain different phenomena such as pulsar glitches or the possibility of an {\it r-process} site in neutron star mergers. It has been shown in the literature that quantal effects like shell correction or pairing may play a relevant role to determine the composition of the inner crust of the neutron star. In this paper we construct the equation of state of the inner crust using the finite-range Gogny interactions, where the mean field and the pairing field are calculated with same interaction. We have used the semiclassical Variational Wigner-Kirkwood method along with shell and pairing corrections calculated with the Strutinsky integral method and the BCS approximation, respectively. Our results are compared with those of some popular models from the literature. We report a unified equation of state of the inner crust and core computed with the D1M* Gogny force, which was specifically fabricated for astrophysical calculations.

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Constraints from GW170817 on the bulk viscosity of neutron star matter and the r-mode instability

We perform a systematic study of the dependence of the r-mode phenomenology in normal fluid pulsar neutron stars on the symmetry energy slope parameter $L$. An essential ingredient in this study is the bulk viscosity, which is evaluated consistently for several equations of state corresponding to different values of the slope parameter $L$. Direct Urca processes, which are allowed from a critical $L$-value onwards, enhance the bulk viscosity and have large influence on the $r$-mode features, such as the instability boundary and spin-down properties of newborn neutron stars. The magnitude of the changes in the $r$-mode properties induced by the direct Urca processes are driven by the $L$-value of the equation of state and the mass of the pulsar. The study has been done by using a family of equations of state of $β$-equilibrated neutron star matter obtained with the finite range simple effective interaction, which provides realistic results for nuclear matter and finite nuclei properties. These equations of state predict the same properties in symmetric nuclear matter and have the same value of the symmetry energy parameter, $E_s(ρ_0)$, but differ in the slope parameter $L$. The range chosen for the variation of $L$ is decided from the tidal deformability data extracted from the GW170817 event and the maximum mass constraint.

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Generic size dependences of pairing in ultrasmall systems: electronic nano-devices and atomic nuclei

Average, global pairing behaviours of electronic devices, like films, wires, and grains are studied with semiclassical methods, as Weyl and Thomas-Fermi approximations, in the ultrasmall, i.e., quantal regime, which exhibits strong quantum fluctuations and shell effects. This is the case also for superfluid nuclei. Results, mostly analytic, are elaborated for average size dependences, ready for easy use also in other circumstances. Comparisons with experimental results are given where possible.

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GW170817 constraints analyzed with Gogny forces and momentum-dependent interactions

A set of equations of state obtained from finite-range Gogny forces and momentum-dependent interactions is used to investigate the recent observation of gravitational waves from the binary neutron star merger GW170817 event. For this set of interactions, we have calculated the neutron star tidal deformabilities (related to the second Love number), the mass-radius diagram, and the moment of inertia~($I$). The $I$-Love relation has been verified. We also have found strong correlations among the tidal deformability of the canonical neutron star, its radius, and the derivatives of the nuclear symmetry energy at the saturation density. Most of the obtained results are located within the constraints of the tidal deformabilities extracted from the GW170817 detection.

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Transverse Josephson vortices and localized states in stacked Bose-Einstein condensates

The stacks of Bose-Einstein condensates coupled by long Josephson junctions present a rich phenomenology feasible to experimental realization and specially suitable for technological applications as the nonlinear-optics and superconducting analogues have already proved. Among this, we show that transverse Bloch waves excited in arrays of one-dimensional coupled condensates can carry tunneling superflows whose dynamical stability depends on the quasimomentum. Across the stacks with periodic boundary conditions, forming closed ring-shaped systems, such Bloch states yield transverse Josephson vortices with a generic non-integer circulation in units of $h/m$. Additionally, the superpositions of degenerate linear Bloch waves can suppress the supercurrents and give rise to families of nonlinear standing-wave states with strong (transverse) spatial localization. Stable states of this type can also be found in finite size systems.

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Study of the core-crust transition in neutron stars with finite-range interactions: the dynamical method

The properties of the core-crust transition in neutron stars are investigated using effective nuclear forces of finite-range. Special attention is paid to the so-called dynamical method for locating the transition point, which, apart from the stability of the uniform nuclear matter against clusterization, also considers contributions due to finite-size effects. In particular, contributions to the transition density and pressure from the direct and exchange energies are carefully analyzed. To this end, finite-range forces of Gogny, Modified Gogny Interaction (MDI) and Simple Effective Interaction (SEI) types are used in the numerical applications. The results from the dynamical approach are compared with those from the popular thermodynamical method that neglects the surface and Coulomb effects in the stability condition. The dependence of the core-crust transition on the stiffness of the symmetry energy of the finite-range models is also addressed. Finally, we analyze the impact of the transition point on the mass, thickness and fraction of the moment of inertia of the neutron star crust. Prominent differences in these crustal properties of the star are found between using the transition point obtained with the dynamical method or the thermodynamical method. It is concluded that the core-crust transition needs to be ascertained as precisely as possible in order to have realistic estimates of the observed phenomena where the crust plays a significant role.

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Gogny forces in the astrophysical context

The most successful Gogny interactions of the D1 family, namely D1S, D1N and D1M, suffer the common problem of a too soft neutron matter equation of state at high density, which prevents them from predicting a maximal mass of neutron stars of two solar masses, as required by recent astronomical observations. To cure this deficiency, we have proposed recently a reparametrization of the D1M force by fine tuning the slope of the symmetry energy in such a way that it preserves the ground-state properties of D1M in finite nuclei and also describes successfully the global properties of neutron stars, in particular its maximal mass, in consonance with the observational data. In this contribution we revisit this reparametrization by discussing two modified Gogny forces, dubbed D1M$^*$ and D1M$^{**}$.

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Comment on the manuscript 1806.02080v1 entitled "Spurious finite-size instabilities of a new Gogny interaction suitable for astrophysical applications"

The conclusions of the manuscript 1806.02080v1 questioning the adequacy of the recently proposed Gogny D1M* interaction for finite nuclei calculations using harmonic oscillator (HO) basis are revised. Several convergence and stability studies are performed with HO basis of different sizes and oscillator parameters and the results show the robustness of the D1M* results for finite nuclei. This analysis is also extended to beyond mean-field calculations of generator-coordinate-method type with D1M*. On the other hand, the existence of a finite-size instability in finite nuclei when coordinate space methods are used to solve the HF equations (as shown in 1806.02080v1) is independently confirmed for D1M* using an in-house computer code based on a quasilocal approximation to the HF exchange potential. We confirm that the most affected quantity in the coordinate space calculation is the spatial density at the origin, but integrated quantities like binding energies or radii show a plateau against the number of iterations, where they are consistent with the values from the HO basis calculation, before diverging for a larger number of iterations. A connection between the last occupied s-orbital in the nucleus and the appearance of instabilities in coordinate space is observed.

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