At low densities, with decreasing temperatures, in symmetric nuclear matter alpha-particles are formed, which eventually give raise to a quantum condensate with four-nucleon alpha-like correlations (quartetting). Starting with a model of alpha-matter, where undistorted alpha particles interact via an effective interaction such as the Ali-Bodmer potential, the suppression of the condensate fraction at zero temperature with increasing density is considered. Using a Jastrow-Feenberg approach, it is found that the condensate fraction vanishes near saturation density. Additionally, the modification of the internal state of the alpha particle due to medium effects will further reduce the condensate.
In finite systems, an enhancement of the S state wave function of the c.o.m. orbital of alpha particle motion is considered as the correspondence to the condensate. Wave functions have been constructed for self-conjugate 4n nuclei which describe the condensate state, but are fully antisymmetrized on the nucleonic level. These condensate-like cluster wave functions have been successfully applied to describe properties of low-density states near the n alpha threshold. Comparison with OCM calculations in 12C and 16O shows strong enhancement of the occupation of the S-state c.o.m. orbital of the alpha-particles. This enhancement is decreasing if the baryon density increases, similar to the density-induced suppression of the condensate fraction in alpha matter. The ground states of 12C and 16O show no enhancement at all, thus a quartetting condensate cannot be formed at saturation densities.
It is proved that alpha-particle states are well described by the Elliott SU(3) model. This result is used to analyze the alpha-particle condensation effect. It is shown that these states possess the basic attributes of the alpha-condensate and, also, the normal nuclear density on frequent occasions. The statistics of alpha-particles (and of arbitrary composite bosons) turns out to be something other than the Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac statistics, and parastatistics.
The present understanding of the structure of the Hoyle state in 12C is reviewed. Most of the theoretical approaches to the Hoyle state are shortly summarized. The corresponding results are analyzed with respect to whether they give evidence to the alpha particle condensation structure of the Hoyle state (and other Hoyle-like states in heavier self-conjugate nuclei) or not.
The phase diagram of isospin-symmetric chemically equilibrated mixture of alpha particles and nucleons is studied in the mean-field approximation. Skyrme-like parametrization is used for the mean-field potentials as functions of partial densities of nucleons and alphas. We find that there is a threshold value a* of the parameter a(N-alpha) which describes the attractive interaction between alpha-particles and nucleons. At a(N-alpha)<a* the ground state of nuclear matter at zero temperature behaves as a pure system of interacting nucleons, whereas at a(N-alpha)>a* the nuclear ground state inclu…
A round up of the present status of the conjecture that n alpha nuclei form an alpha-particle condensate in excited states close to the n alpha threshold is given. Experiments which could demonstrate the condensate character are proposed. Possible lines of further theoretical developments are discussed.
We have analyzed $^{3}$He scattering from $^{12}$C at 34.7 and 72 MeV in a coupled channel method with a double folding potential derived from the precise wave functions for the ground 0$^+$ state and $0_2^+$ (7.65 MeV) Hoyle state, which has been suggested to be an $α$ particle condensate. It is found that strong refraction of $^3$He in the Hoyle state can be clearly seen in the experimental angular distribution at {\it low} incident energy region as an Airy minimum of the {\it pre-rainbow oscillations}.
The 4-alpha condensate state for ^{16}O is discussed with the THSR (Tohsaki-Horiuchi-Schuck-Roepke) wave function which has alpha-particle condensate character. Taking into account a proper treatment of resonances, it is found that the 4-alpha THSR wave function yields a fourth 0^+ state in the continuum above the 4-alpha-breakup threshold in addition to the three 0^+ states obtained in a previous analysis. It is shown that this fourth 0^+ ((0_4^+)_{THSR}) state has an analogous structure to the Hoyle state, since it has a very dilute density and a large component of alpha+^{12}C(0_2^+) config…
The onset of quartetting, i.e. alpha-particle condensation, in symmetric nuclear matter is studied with the help of an in-medium modified four nucleon equation. It is found that at very low density quartetting wins over pairing, because of the strong binding of the alpha-particles. The critical temperature can reach values up to around 6 MeV. Also the disappearance of alpha-particles with increasing density, i.e. the Mott transition, is investigated. In finite nuclei the Hoyle state, that is the 0_2^+ of 12C, is identified as an "alpha-particle condensate" state. It is conjectured that such st…
The Color Glass Condensate formalism and its application to high energy heavy ion collisions at RHIC are discussed. We argue that the RHIC data supports the view that the Color Glass Condensate provides the initial conditions for gold-gold collisions at RHIC while final state (Quark Gluon Plasma) effects are responsible for the high $p_t$ suppression in mid rapidity. At forward rapidities in deuteron-gold collisions, however, Color Glass Condensate is the underlying physics of the observed suppression of the particle spectra and their centrality dependence.
In order to discuss the spatial extention of the second 0+ state of 12C (Hoyle state), we analyze the inelastic form factor of electron scattering to the Hoyle state, which our 3 alpha condensate wave function reproduces very well like previous 3 alpha RGM/GCM models. The analysis is made by varying the size of the Hoyle state artificially. As a result, we find that only the maximum value of the form factor sensitively depends on its size, while the positions of maximum and minimum are almost unchanged. This size dependence is found to come from a characteristic feature of the transition densi…
We discuss the treatment of isovector pairing by an alpha-like quartet condensate which conserves exactly the particle number, the spin and the isospin. The results show that the quartet condensate describes accurately the isovector pairing correlations in the ground state of systems with an equal number of protons and neutrons
The rotation induced inhomogeneous problem is non-trivial and inevitable. In this paper a generic framework is developed to investigate the inhomogeneous condensate in a system of fermions under the presence of rotation. It is a self-consistent method basing on a set of relativistic BdG equations solved with typical iteration algorithm. Taking the chiral condensate for example we study rotational effects numerically and discover two inhomogeneous effects, the local rotational suppression effect and centrifugal effect. They may have significant impacts on the phase structure of various kinds of…
The ground state energy of ideal alpha-matter at T=0 is analyzed within the framework of variational theory of Bose quantum liquids. Calculations are done for three local alpha-alpha potentials with positive volume integrals and two-body correlation functions obtained from the Pandharipande-Bethe equation. The energy per particle of $\alp$ matter is evaluated in the cluster expansion formalism up to four-body diagrams, and using the HNC/0 and HNC/4 approximation for a Bose liquid. Inclusion of higher order terms in the cluster expansion of the condensate fraction are leading to a stronger depl…
There has been a recent flurry of interest in the possibility of condensates of $α$-particles in nuclei. In this letter we discuss occurrence conditions for such states. Using the quantality condition of Mottelson we show that condensates are only marginally expected in $α$-particle states. We proceed to demonstrate that few-body nuclear condensates are ill-defined, and emphasize the conflict between $α$-localization and $α$-condensate formation. We also explore the connection between Ikeda diagrams, linear chains, and Tonks-Girardeau gases. Our findings show that no new information is contain…
We construct a BCS-like model that combines nucleonic pairing correlations and possible quartic correlations of alpha-type in a single variational wave function and derive corresponding gap equations. In the approximation of large logarithms typical for the BCS approach, we show that the system reveals two possible types of a condensate which cannot coexist. If the alpha-type condensate prevails at N=Z, the growth of the neutron excess will naturally lead to the first order phase transition to the nucleon condensates.
We perform a quantitative analysis of the nuclear modification factor in deuteron--gold collisions R(dAu) within the Color Glass Condensate approach, and compare our results with the recent data from RHIC experiments. Our model leads to Cronin enhancement at mid-rapidity, while at forward rapidities it predicts strong suppression of R(dAu) at all pT due to low-x evolution. We demonstrate that our results are consistent with the data for dAu charged hadron spectra, R(dAu) and R(CP) recently reported for rapidities in the interval eta=0--3.2 by the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC. We also make a predi…
The dilepton production is investigated in proton-nucleus collisions in the forward region using the Color Glass Condensate approach. The transverse momentum distribution ($p_T$), more precisely the low $p_T$ region, where the saturation effects are expected to increase, is analyzed. The ratio between proton-nucleus and proton-proton differential cross section for RHIC and LHC energies is evaluated, showing the effects of saturation at small $p_T$, and presenting a Cronin type peak at moderate $p_T$. These features indicate the dilepton as a most suitable probe to study the properties of the s…
Our present understanding of the structure of the Hoyle state in $^{12}$C and other near-threshold states in $α$-conjugate nuclei is reviewed in the framework of the $α$-condensate model. The $^{12}$C Hoyle state, in particular, is a candidate for $α$-condensation, due to its large radius and $α$-cluster structure. The predicted features of nuclear $α$-particle condensates are reviewed along with a discussion of their experimental indicators, with a focus on precision break-up measurements. Two experiments are discussed in detail, firstly concerning the break-up of $^{12}$C and then the decays…
In order to study non-zero spin excitations of the recently proposed alpha-cluster condensation in the self-conjugate 4n nuclei, spatial deformation is introduced into the model wave function of the alpha-cluster condensate. The rotational band states of 8Be are investigated as a first step of a test case for the study of the deformation of the alpha-cluster condensate. Calculations reproduce well the binding energy of the 0+ ground state and also the excitation energy of the 2+ state. Our 0+ wave function is found to be almost exactly equal to the 0+ wave function obtained by the generator co…
The geometric clustering of partons in the transverse plane of nuclear collisions leads for increasing A or sqrt(s) to percolation. In the resulting condensate, the partons are deconfined but not yet in thermal equilibrium. We discuss quarkonium dissociation in this precursor of the quark-gluon plasma, with an onset of dissociation when the saturation scale of the parton condensate reaches that of the given quarkonium state.
It is shown that a dilute property of an $α$ particle condensate can be seen in the Airy structure of nuclear rainbow and prerainbow scattering. The dilute property of the Hoyle state of $^{12}$C with a developed $α$ cluster structure is discussed by studying refractive $^3$He+$^{12}$C and $α$+$^{12}$C scattering.
The root mean square radii of $^{20}$Ne in the short-lived excited states were experimentally deduced for the first time from the analyses of $α$+$^{20}$Ne diffraction scattering. Differential cross sections of the elastic and inelastic $α$+$^{20}$Ne scattering in the incident energy range from a few MeV/nucleon up to 100 MeV/nucleon were analyzed by the modified diffraction model. No significant radius enhancement for the members of K$^π$ = 0$_{1}^{+}$ and K$^π$ = 2$^{-}$ bands in comparison with the ground state was observed. At the same time 20 % radius enhancement was obtained for the K$^π…
The states with $J^π=0^+$, $2^+$, and $4^+$ of $^{12}$C with excitation energies less than about 15 MeV are investigated with the alpha condensate wave function with spatial deformation and by using the method of ACCC (analytic continuation in the coupling constant) which is necessary for a proper treatment of resonance states. The calculated energy and width of the recently observed $2_2^+$ state are found to be well reproduced. The obtained $2_2^+$ wave function has a large overlap with a single condensate wave function of $3α$ gas-like structure. The density distribution is shown to be almo…
In a recent paper, arXiv0712.1191 [nucl-th], Zinner and Jensen (ZJ) expressed strong doubts about the concept of alpha-particle condensation in finite nuclei. In this article we give a reply which, essentially, is point by point (but not in the order).
A new $α$-cluster wave function is proposed which is of the $α$-particle condensate type. Applications to $^{12}$C and $^{16}$O show that states of low density close to the 3 resp. 4 $α$-particle threshold in both nuclei are possibly of this kind. It is conjectured that all self-conjugate 4$n$ nuclei may show similar features.
The interplay between the formation of neutron skin and alpha cluster at the dilute surface of neutron-rich nuclei is one of the interesting subjects in the study of neutron-rich nuclei and nuclear clustering. A theoretical model has predicted that the growth of neutron skin will prevent the alpha clustering at the nuclear surface. Quite recently, this theoretical perspective; the suppression of alpha clustering by the neutron-skin formation was first confirmed experimentally in Sn isotopes as the reduction of the (p, p alpha) reaction cross-section. Motivated by the novel discovery, in this w…
The $α$-particle condensate in nuclei is a novel state described by a product state of $α$'s, all with their c.o.m. in the lowest 0S orbit. We demonstrate that a typical $α$-particle condensate is the Hoyle state ($E_{x}=7.65$ MeV, $0^+_2$ state in $^{12}$C), which plays a crucial role for the synthesis of $^{12}$C in the universe. The influence of antisymmentrization in the Hoyle state on the bosonic character of the $α$ particle is discussed in detail. It is shown to be weak. The bosonic aspects in the Hoyle state, therefore, are predominant. It is conjectured that $α$-particle condensate st…
In this article we review the present status of alpha clustering in nuclear systems. First of all, an important aspect is condensation in nuclear matter. Second, the alpha container model, recently been proposed by Tohsaki-Horiuchi-Schuck-Roepke (THSR), will be outlined and the ensuing condensate aspect of the Hoyle state at 7.65 MeV in 12C will be investigated in some detail. After 15 years since the proposal of the alpha condensation concept a critical assessment of this idea will be given. Alpha gas states in other nuclei like 16O and 13C will be considered. The THSR wave function can also …
We study the competition between alpha-type and conventional pair condensation in the ground state of nuclei with neutrons and protons interacting via a charge-independent pairing interaction. The ground state is described by a product of two condensates, one of alpha-like quartets and the other one of pairs in excess relative to the isotope with N=Z. It is shown that this ansatz for the ground state gives very accurate pairing correlation energies for nuclei with the valence nucleons above the closed cores 16O, 40Ca and 100Sn. These results indicate that alpha-type correlations are important …
The theory of quartet condensation is further developed. The onset of quartetting in homgeneous fermionic matter is studied with the help of an in-medium modified four fermion equation. It is found that at very low density quartetting wins over pairing. At zero temperature, in analogy to pairing, a set of equations for the quartet order parameter is given. Contrary to pairing, quartetting only exists for strong coupling and breaks down for weak coupling. Reasons for this finding are detailed. In an application to nuclear matter, the critical temperature for alpha particle condensation can reac…
The equation of state and phase diagram of isospin-symmetric chemically equilibrated mixture of alpha particles and nucleons are studied in the mean-field approximation. The model takes into account the effects of Fermi and Bose statistics for nucleons and alphas, respectively. We use Skyrme-like parametrization of the mean-field potentials as functions of partial densities, which contain both attractive and repulsive terms. Parameters of these potentials are chosen by fitting known properties of pure nucleon- and pure alpha matter at zero temperature. The sensitivity of results to the choice …
Using the color glass condensate formalism, we study the nuclear modification of forward $J/ψ$ and $D$ meson production in high energy proton-nucleus collisions at the LHC. We show that relying on the optical Glauber model to obtain the dipole cross section of the nucleus from the one of the proton fitted to HERA DIS data leads to a smaller nuclear suppression than in the first study of these processes in this formalism and a better agreement with experimental data.
The formation of alpha-clusters in nuclei close to the decay thresholds is discussed. These states can be considered to be boson-condensates, which are formed in a second order phase transition in a mixture of nucleons and alpha-particles. The de Broglie wavelength of the alpha-particles is larger than the nuclear diameter, therefore the coherent properties of the alpha-particles give particular effects for the study of such states. The states are above the thresholds thus the enhanced emission of multiple-alphas into the same direction is observed. The probability for the emission of multiple…
The production of forward $J/ψ$ mesons in proton-nucleus collisions can provide important information on gluon saturation. In a previous work we studied this process in the Color Glass Condensate framework, describing the target using a dipole cross section fitted to HERA inclusive data and extrapolated to the case of a nuclear target using the optical Glauber model. In this work we study the centrality dependence of the nuclear suppression in this model and compare our results with recent LHC data for this observable.
The reaction rates for alpha capture processes on self-conjugate nuclei in the mass range A=20-40 have been investigated. The rates were calculated using the statistical model code NON-SMOKER taking into account isospin suppression rules. These theoretical predictions are compared with rates derived from the available experimental data about the alpha capture reactions taking also into account additional experimental information from different reaction channels populating the alpha unbound states of the self-conjugate compound nuclei.
It is suggested that superfluid helium (condensate of 4-He atoms) may stimulate nuclear alpha-decay in a situation when an alpha-emitter moves through superfluid helium with fine-tuned velocity, so that the backward-emitted alpha-particle is at rest in the laboratory frame. It is shown that the probability of stimulated alpha-decay in this case may be sizable enough to be detected.
Data from E772 and E866 experiments on the Drell-Yan process exhibit a significant nuclear suppression at large Feynman xF. We show that a corresponding kinematic region does not allow to interpret this as a manifestation of coherence or a Color Glass Condensate. We demonstrate, however, that this suppression can be treated alternatively as an effective energy loss proportional to initial energy. To eliminate suppression coming from the coherence, we perform predictions for nuclear effects also at large dilepton masses. Our calculations are in a good agreement with available data. Since the ki…
It is suggested that direct evidence of Bose-Einstein condensation of alpha particles is obtained by observing a phase mode (Nambu-Goldstone boson) with long wavelength even when characteristic features such as superfluidity is diffucult to observe. For the 7.65 MeV $0_2^+$ Hoyle state in $^{12}$C and 15.1 MeV $0^+$ state in $^{16}$O, which are candidates for an alpha particle condensate, it is suggested that the emergent band head $0^+$ state of the $K=0_2^+$ rotational band with a very large moment of inertia is considered to be a Nambu-Goldstone boson.
We compute diffractive structure functions for both protons and nuclei in the framework of Color Glass Condensate models with impact parameter dependence. These models have previously been shown to provide good agreement with inclusive F_2 measurements and exclusive vector meson measurements at HERA. For nuclei, they provide good (parameter free) agreement with the inclusive F_2 data. We demonstrate good agreement of our computations with HERA measurements on inclusive diffraction. We extend our analysis to nuclei and predict the pattern of enhancement and suppression of the diffractive struct…
The nuclear suppression of forward $J/ψ$ production in high energy proton-nucleus collisions can be used as a probe of gluon saturation at small $x$. In an earlier work we studied this suppression in minimum bias collisions in the Color Glass Condensate formalism, relying on the optical Glauber model to obtain the dipole cross section of the nucleus from the one of the proton fitted to HERA DIS data. Here we study how the impact parameter dependence of this model can be used to compare our results with recent LHC data on the centrality dependence of this suppression.
Angular distributions for elastic and inelastic scattering of $^3$He from $^{12}$C were measured at energies 50.5 and 60 MeV. The Airy minimum of the prerainbow scattering was clearly observed in the angular distributions for the 0$_2^+$ (7.65 MeV) state of $^{12}$C (Hoyle state). The experimental results were analyzed with a coupled channels method with double folding potentials derived from the microscopic wave functions for the ground 0$_1^+$, 2$^+$ (4.44 MeV), 3$^-$ (9.64 MeV) and 0$_2^+$ states. The analysis supports the view that the Hoyle state is a three alpha particle condensate with …
Four-particle correlations in fermion systems at finite temperatures are investigated with special attention to the formation of a condensate. Instead of the instability of the normal state with respect to the onset of pairing described by the Gorkov equation, a new equation is obtained which describes the onset of quartetting. Within a model calculation for symmetric nuclear matter, we find that below a critical density, the four-particle condensation (alpha-like quartetting) is favored over deuteron condensation (triplet pairing). This pairing-quartetting competition is expected to be a gene…
We briefly report the modern status of heavy quark sum rules (HQSR) based on stability criteria by emphasizing the recent progresses for determining the QCD parameters (alpha_s, m_{c,b} and gluon condensates)where their correlations have been taken into account. The results: alpha_s(M_Z)=0.1181(16)(3), m_c(m_c)=1286(16) MeV, m_b(m_b)=4202(7) MeV,<alpha_s G^2> = (6.49+-0.35)10^-2 GeV^4, < g^3 G^3 >= (8.2+-1.0) GeV^2 <alpha_s G^2> and the ones from recent light quark sum rules are summarized in Table 2. One can notice that the SVZ value of <alpha_s G^2> has been underestimated by a factor 1.6, <…
The influence of the magnetic field on the pion superfluidity and the phase structure is analyzed in the framework of the two-flavor Nambu--Jona-Lasinio(NJL) model. To do this, we first derive the thermodynamic potential from the Lagrangian density of the NJL model in the mean field approximation. Using this thermodynamic potential, we get the gap equation of the chiral condensate and the pion condensate. The effect of external magnetic field on the pion condensate is not simple promotion or suppression, which we will discuss in detail in the paper. It is shown that the tricritical point on th…
MeV-scale magnetic fields in the interiors of magnetars suppress the pairing of neutrons and protons in the $S$-wave state. In the case of a neutron condensate the suppression is the consequence of the Pauli-paramagnetism of the neutron gas, i.e., the alignment of the neutron spins along the magnetic field. The proton $S$-wave pairing is suppressed because of the Landau diamagnetic currents of protons induced by the field. The Ginzburg-Landau and BCS theories of the critical magnetic fields for unpairing are reviewed. The macrophysical implications of the suppression (unpairing) of the condens…
