arXiv subjects

Z. P. Li

Publications and source records attributed to Z. P. Li.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Does a proton "bubble" structure exist in the low-lying states of 34Si?

The possible existence of a "bubble" structure in the proton density of $^{34}$Si has recently attracted a lot of research interest. To examine the existence of the "bubble" structure in low-lying states, we establish a relativistic version of configuration mixing of both particle number and angular momentum projected quadrupole deformed mean-field states and apply this state-of-the-art beyond relativistic mean-field method to study the density distribution of the low-lying states in $^{34}$Si. An excellent agreement with the data of low-spin spectrum and electric multipole transition strengths is achieved without introducing any parameters. We find that the central depression in the proton density is quenched by dynamic quadrupole shape fluctuation, but not as significantly as what has been found in a beyond non-relativistic mean-field study. Our results suggest that the existence of proton "bubble" structure in the low-lying excited $0^+_2$ and $2^+_1$ states is very unlikely.

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arXiv2013

Beyond relativistic mean-field studies of low-lying states in neutron-deficient krypton isotopes

Neutron-deficient krypton isotopes are of particular interest due to the coexistence of oblate and prolate shapes in low-lying states and the transition of ground-state from one dominate shape to another as a function of neutron number. A detailed interpretation of these phenomena in neutron-deficient Kr isotopes requires the use of a method going beyond a mean-field approach that permits to determine spectra and transition probabilities. The aim of this work is to provide a systematic calculation of low-lying state in the even-even 68-86Kr isotopes and to understand the shape coexistence phenomenon and the onset of large collectivity around N=40 from beyond relativistic mean-field studies. The starting point of our method is a set of relativistic mean-field+BCS wave functions generated with a constraint on triaxial deformations (beta, gamma). The excitation energies and electric multipole transition strengths of low-lying states are calculated by solving a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian (5DCH) with parameters determined by the mean-field wave functions. To examine the role of triaxiality, a configuration mixing of both particle number (PN) and angular momentum (AM) projected axially deformed states is also carried out within the exact generator coordinate method (GCM) based on the same energy density functional. The energy surfaces, the excitation energies of 0^+_2, 2^+_1, 2^+_2 states, as well as the E0 and E2 transition strengths are compared with the results of similar 5DCH calculations but with parameters determined by the non-relativistic mean-field wave functions, as well as with the available data...

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arXiv2012

Anisotropic magnetoresistance in topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.8Se1.2/CoFe heterostructures

Topological insulator is composed of an insulating bulk state and time reversal symmetry protected two-dimensional surface states. One of the characteristics of the surface states is the locking between electron momentum and spin orientation. Here, we report a novel in-plane anisotropic magnetoresistance in topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.8Se1.2/CoFe heterostructures. To explain the novel effect, we propose that the Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.8Se1.2/CoFe heterostructure forms a spin-valve or Giant magnetoresistance device due to spin-momentum locking. The novel in-plane anisotropic magnetoresistance can be explained as a Giant magnetoresistance effect of the Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.8Se1.2/CoFe heterostructures.

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arXiv2012

Collective excitations of $Λ$ hypernuclei

We discuss low-lying collective excitations of $Λ$ hypernuclei using the self-consistent mean-field approaches. We first discuss the deformation properties of $Λ$ hypernuclei in the $sd$-shell region. Based on the relativistic mean-field (RMF) approach, we show that the oblate deformation for $^{28}$Si nucleus may disappear when a $Λ$ particle is added to this nucleus. We then discuss the rotational excitations of $^{25}_Λ$Mg nucleus using the three-dimensional potential energy surface in the deformation plane obtained with the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock method. The deformation of $^{25}_Λ$Mg nucleus is predicted to be slightly reduced due to an addition of $Λ$ particle. We demonstrate that this leads to a reduction of electromagnetic transition probability, $B(E2)$, in the ground state rotational band. We also present an application of random phase approximation (RPA) to hypernuclei, and show that a new dipole mode, which we call a soft dipole $Λ$ mode, appears in hypernuclei, which can be interpreted as an oscillation of $Λ$ particle against the core nucleus.

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arXiv2012

Enhanced collectivity in neutron-deficient Sn isotopes in energy functional based collective Hamiltonian

The low-lying collective states in Sn isotopes are studied by a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian with parameters determined from the triaxial relativistic mean-field calculations using the PC-PK1 energy density functional. The systematics for both the excitation energies of $2^+_1$ states and $B(E2;0^+_1\to 2^+_1)$ values are reproduced rather well, in particular, the enhanced E2 transitions in the neutron-deficient Sn isotopes with N<66. We show that the gradual degeneracy of neutron levels 1g7/2 and 2d5/2 around the Fermi surface leads to the increase of level density and consequently the enhanced paring correlations from N=66 to 58. It provokes a large quadrupole shape fluctuation around the spherical shape, and leads to an enhanced collectivity in the isotopes around N=58.

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arXiv2012

Energy Density Functional analysis of shape evolution in N=28 isotones

The structure of low-energy collective states in proton-deficient N=28 isotones is analyzed using structure models based on the relativistic energy density functional DD-PC1. The relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov model for triaxial nuclei is used to calculate binding energy maps in the $β$-$γ$ plane. The evolution of neutron and proton single-particle levels with quadrupole deformation, and the occurrence of gaps around the Fermi surface, provide a simple microscopic interpretation of the onset of deformation and shape coexistence. Starting from self-consistent constrained energy surfaces calculated with the functional DD-PC1, a collective Hamiltonian for quadrupole vibrations and rotations is employed in the analysis of excitation spectra and transition rates of $^{46}$Ar, $^{44}$S, and $^{42}$Si. The results are compared to available data, and previous studies based either on the mean-field approach or large-scale shell-model calculations. The present study is particularly focused on $^{44}$S, for which data have recently been reported that indicate pronounced shape coexistence.

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arXiv2012

An efficient method for computing the Thouless-Valatin inertia parameters

Starting from the adiabatic time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation (ATDHF), we propose an efficient method to calculate the Thouless-Valatin moments of inertia for the nuclear system. The method is based on the rapid convergence of the expansion of the inertia matrix. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified in the rotational case by comparing the results with the exact Thouless-Valatin moments of inertia calculated using the self-consistent cranking model. The proposed method is computationally much more efficient than the full ATDHF calculation, yet it retains a high accuracy of the order of 1%.

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arXiv2012

Rapid structural change in low-lying states of neutron-rich Sr and Zr isotopes

The rapid structural change in low-lying collective excitation states of neutron-rich Sr and Zr isotopes is tudied by solving a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian with parameters determined by both relativistic mean-field and non-relativistic Skyrme-Hartree-Fock calculations using the PC-PK1 and SLy4 forces respectively. Pair correlations are treated in BCS method with either a separable pairing force or a density-dependent zero-range force. The isotope shifts, excitation energies, electric monopole and quadrupole transition strengths are calculated and compared with corresponding experimental data. The calculated results with both the PC-PK1 and SLy4 forces exhibit a picture of spherical-oblate-prolate shape transition in neutron-rich Sr and Zr isotopes. Compared with the experimental data, the PC-PK1 (or SLy4) force predicts a more moderate (or dramatic) change in most of the collective properties around N=60. The underlying microscopic mechanism responsible for the rapid transition is discussed.

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arXiv2011

Impurity effect of $Λ$ hyperon on shape-coexistence nucleus $^{44}$S in the energy functional based collective Hamiltonian

The non-relativistic Skyrme energy density functional (EDF) based collective Hamiltonian, that takes into account dynamical correlations related to the restoration of broken symmetries and fluctuations of quadrupole collective variables, is applied to quantitatively study the impurity effect of $Λ$ hyperon on the collectivity of $^{44}$S. Several Skyrme forces for both the nucleon-nucleon ($NN$) and $Λ$-nucleon ($ΛN$) interactions are used. The influence of pairing strengths on the polarization effect of $Λ$ hyperon is also examined. It is found that although these Skyrme forces with different pairing strengths give somewhat different low-lying spectra for $^{44}$S, all of them give similar and generally small size of $Λ$ reduction effect (within 5%) on the collective properties.

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arXiv2011

Covariant description of shape evolution and shape coexistence in neutron-rich nuclei at N\approx60

The shape evolution and shape coexistence phenomena in neutron-rich nuclei at $N\approx60$, including Kr, Sr, Zr, and Mo isotopes, are studied in the covariant density functional theory (DFT) with the new parameter set PC-PK1. Pairing correlations are treated using the BCS approximation with a separable pairing force. Sharp rising in the charge radii of Sr and Zr isotopes at N=60 is observed and shown to be related to the rapid changing in nuclear shapes. The shape evolution is moderate in neighboring Kr and Mo isotopes. Similar as the results of previous Hartree-Fock-Bogogliubov (HFB) calculations with the Gogny force, triaxiality is observed in Mo isotopes and shown to be essential to reproduce quantitatively the corresponding charge radii. In addition, the coexistence of prolate and oblate shapes is found in both $^{98}$Sr and $^{100}$Zr. The observed oblate and prolate minima are related to the low single-particle energy level density around the Fermi surfaces of neutron and proton respectively. Furthermore, the 5-dimensional (5D) collective Hamiltonian determined by the calculations of the PC-PK1 energy functional is solved for $^{98}$Sr and $^{100}$Zr. The resultant excitation energy of $0^+_2$ state and E0 transition strength $ρ^2(E0;0^+_2\rightarrow0^+_1)$ are in rather good agreement with the data. It is found that the lower barrier height separating the two competing minima along the $γ$ deformation in $^{100}$Zr gives rise to the larger $ρ^2(E0;0^+_2\rightarrow0^+_1)$ than that in $^{98}$Sr.

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arXiv2011

Impurity effect of Lambda hyperon on collective excitations of atomic nuclei

Taking the ground state rotational band in $^{24}$Mg as an example, we investigate the impurity effect of $Λ$ hyperon on collective excitations of atomic nuclei in the framework of non-relativistic energy density functional theory. To this end, we take into account correlations related to the restoration of broken symmetries and fluctuations of collective variables by solving the eigenvalue problem of a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian for quadrupole vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom. The parameters of the collective Hamiltonian are determined with constrained mean-field calculations for triaxial shapes using the SGII Skyrme force. We compare the low-spin spectrum for $^{24}$Mg with the spectrum for the same nucleus inside $^{25}_Λ$Mg. It is found that the $Λ$ hyperon stretches the ground state band and reduces the $B(E2:2^+_1 \rightarrow 0^+_1)$ value by $\sim 9%$, mainly by softening the potential energy surface towards the spherical shape, even though the shrinkage effect on the average proton radius is only $\sim0.5%$.

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arXiv2010

New parametrization for the nuclear covariant energy density functional with point-coupling interaction

A new parametrization PC-PK1 for the nuclear covariant energy density functional with nonlinear point-coupling interaction is proposed by fitting to observables for 60 selected spherical nuclei, including the binding energies, charge radii and empirical pairing gaps. The success of PC-PK1 is illustrated in its description for infinite nuclear matter and finite nuclei including the ground-state and low-lying excited states. Particularly, PC-PK1 improves the description for isospin dependence of binding energy along either the isotopic or the isotonic chains, which makes it more reliable for application in exotic nuclei. The predictive power of PC-PK1 is also illustrated for the nuclear low-lying excitation states in a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian in which the parameters are determined by constrained calculations for triaxial shapes.

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arXiv2010

Octupole deformation for Ba isotopes in a reflection-asymmetric relativistic mean-field approach

The potential energy surfaces of even-even $^{142-156}$Ba are investigated in the constrained reflection-asymmetric relativistic mean-field approach with parameter set PK1. It is shown that for the ground states, $^{142}$Ba is near spherical,$^{156}$Ba well quadrupole-deformed, and in between $^{144-154}$Ba octupole deformed. In particular, the nuclei $^{148,150}$Ba with $N=92,94$ have the largest octupole deformations. By including the octupole degree of freedom, energy gaps $N=88$, $N=94$ and $Z=56$ near Fermi surfaces for the single-particle levels in $^{148}$Ba with $β_2\sim 0.26$ and $β_3\sim 0.17$ are found. Furthermore, the performance of the octupole deformation driving pairs ($ν2f_{7/2}$, $ν1i_{13/2}$) and ($π2d_{5/2}$, $π1h_{11/2}$) is demonstrated by analyzing the single-particle levels near Fermi surfaces in $^{148}$Ba.

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arXiv2010

Microscopic Description of Spherical to Gamma-Soft Shape Transitions in Ba and Xe Nuclei

The rapid transition between spherical and $γ$-soft shapes in Ba and Xe nuclei in the mass region $A \geq 130$ is analyzed using excitation spectra and collective wave functions obtained by diagonalization of a five-dimensional Hamiltonian for quadrupole vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom, with parameters determined by constrained self-consistent relativistic mean-field calculations for triaxial shapes. The results reproduce the characteristic evolution of excitation spectra and E2 transition probabilities and, in general, a good agreement with available data is obtained. The calculated spectra display fingerprints of a second-order shape phase transition that can approximately be described by analytic solutions corresponding to the E(5) dynamical symmetry.

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arXiv2010

Octupole degree of freedom for the critical-point candidate nucleus $^{152}$Sm in a reflection-asymmetric relativistic mean-field approach

The potential energy surfaces of even-even $^{146-156}$Sm are investigated in the constrained reflection-asymmetric relativistic mean-field approach with parameter set PK1. It is shown that the critical-point candidate nucleus $^{152}$Sm marks the shape/phase transition not only from U(5) to SU(3) symmetry, but also from the octupole-deformed ground state in $^{150}$Sm to the quadrupole-deformed ground state in $^{154}$Sm. By including the octupole degree of freedom, an energy gap near the Fermi surface for single-particle levels in $^{152}$Sm with $β_2 = 0.14 \sim 0.26$ is found, and the important role of the octupole deformation driving pair $ν2f_{7/2}$ and $ν1i_{13/2}$ is demonstrated.

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arXiv2009

Microscopic Analysis of Order Parameters in Nuclear Quantum Phase Transitions

Microscopic signatures of nuclear ground-state shape phase transitions in Nd isotopes are studied using excitation spectra and collective wave functions obtained by diagonalization of a five-dimensional Hamiltonian for quadrupole vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom, with parameters determined by constrained self-consistent relativistic mean-field calculations for triaxial shapes. As a function of the physical control parameter -- the number of nucleons, energy gaps between the ground state and the excited vibrational states with zero angular momentum, isomer shifts, and monopole transition strengths, exhibit sharp discontinuities at neutron number N=90, characteristic of a first-order quantum phase transition.

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arXiv2009

Quantum fluctuations in the shape of exotic nuclei

Quantum fluctuations concerning the shape of nuclei are treated within the framework of covariant density functional theory. Long range correlations beyond mean field are taken into account by configuration mixing of wave functions with triaxial shapes and the restoration of spontaneously broken rotational symmetries through three-dimensional angular momentum projection. The "controversial" nucleus 16C is treated as an example and it is found that its ground state has a triaxial shape but with large shape fluctuations. They are of crucial importance for a proper description of the spectroscopic properties of such nuclei.

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arXiv2009

Microscopic Analysis of Nuclear Quantum Phase Transitions in the N=90 region

The analysis of shape transitions in Nd isotopes, based on the framework of relativistic energy density functionals and restricted to axially symmetric shapes in Ref. \cite{PRL99}, is extended to the region $Z = 60$, 62, 64 with $N \approx 90$, and includes both $β$ and $γ$ deformations. Collective excitation spectra and transition probabilities are calculated starting from a five-dimensional Hamiltonian for quadrupole vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom, with parameters determined by constrained self-consistent relativistic mean-field calculations for triaxial shapes. The results reproduce available data, and show that there is an abrupt change of structure at N=90 that can be approximately characterized by the X(5) analytic solution at the critical point of the first-order quantum phase transition between spherical and axially deformed shapes.

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