We investigate low-lying octupole response of neutron-rich Ni isotopes beyond the N=50 shell closure using the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov mean-fields and the continuum quasi-particle random phase approximation. Performing detailed numerical analyses employing the Skyrme parameter set SLy4 and a density-dependent delta interaction of the mixed type, we show that a neutron mode emerges above the neutron separation energy as a consequence of the weak binding of neutrons and it exhibits strong influences of the di-neutron correlation.
Octupole deformation in even-even Ra isotopes from covariant density functional theory with localized exchange terms in a three-dimensional lattice space
School of Physics, Anhui University（安徽大学物理学院）；School of Physics, Nankai University（南开大学物理学院）；China Institute of Atomic Energy（中国原子能科学研究院）
The lowest positive- and negative-parity bands of $^{20}$Ne and neutron-rich even-even Ne isotopes are investigated using a theoretical framework based on energy density functionals. Starting from a self-consistent relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov calculation of axially-symmetric and reflection-asymmetric deformation energy surfaces, the collective symmetry-conserving states are built using projection techniques and the generator coordinate method. Overall a good agreement with the experimental excitation energies and transition rates is obtained. In particular, the model provides an accurate d…
The evolution of quadrupole and octupole collectivity in neutron-deficient Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd nuclei near the "octupole magic" neutron number $N=56$ is investigated within the mapped $sdf$-IBM framework. Microscopic input is obtained via quadrupole and octupole constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations, based on the parametrization D1M of the Gogny energy density functional. Octupole-deformed mean-field ground states are predicted for Ba and Ce isotopes near $N=56$. Excitation energies of positive- and negative-parity states as well as electric transition rates are computed with wave fu…
Octupole deformation and the relevant spectroscopic properties of neutron-rich odd-mass barium isotopes are investigated in a theoretical framework based on nuclear density functional theory and the particle-core coupling scheme. The interacting-boson Hamiltonian that describes the octupole-deformed even-even core nucleus, as well as the single-particle energies and occupation probabilities of an unpaired nucleon, are completely determined by microscopic axially-symmetric $(β_{2},β_{3})$-deformation constrained self-consistent mean-field calculations for a specific choice of the energy density…
Octupole deformations and related collective excitations are analyzed using the framework of nuclear density functional theory. Axially-symmetric quadrupole-octupole constrained self-consistent mean-field (SCMF) calculations with a choice of universal energy density functional and a pairing interaction are performed for Xe, Ba, and Ce isotopes from proton-rich to neutron-rich regions, and neutron-rich Se, Kr, and Sr isotopes, in which enhanced octupole correlations are expected to occur. Low-energy positive- and negative-parity spectra and transition strengths are computed by solving the quadr…
We present a generator-coordinate calculation, based on a relativistic energy-density functional, of the low-lying spectra in the isotopes $^{150}$Nd and $^{150}$Sm and of the nuclear matrix element that governs the neutrinoless double-beta decay of the first isotope to the second. We carefully examine the impact of octupole correlations on both nuclear structure and the double-beta decay matrix element. Octupole correlations turn out to reduce quadrupole collectivity in both nuclei. Shape fluctuations, however, dilute the effects of octupole deformation on the double-beta decay matrix element…
[Background] Predictions of spectroscopic properties of low-lying states are critical for nuclear structure studies. Theoretical methods can be particularly involved for odd-mass nuclei because of the interplay between the unpaired nucleon and collective degrees of freedom. Only a few models have been developed for systems in which octupole collective degrees of freedom play a role. [Purpose] We aim to predict spectroscopic properties of odd-mass nuclei characterized by octupole shape deformation, employing a model that describes single-particle and collective degrees of freedom within the sam…
The onset of octupole deformation and its impact on related spectroscopic properties is studied in even-even neutron-rich lanthanide isotopes Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd with neutron number $86\leqslant N\leqslant 94$. Microscopic input comes from the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation with constrains on the axially symmetric quadrupole and octupole operators using the Gogny-D1M interaction. At the mean-field level, reflection asymmetric ground states are predicted for isotopes with neutron number around $N=88$. Spectroscopic properties are studied by diagonalizing the interacting boson model Hamilt…
Enhanced octupole collectivity is expected in the neutron-deficient Ge, Se and Kr isotopes with neutron number $N \approx 40$ and has indeed been observed for $^{70,72}$Ge. Shape coexistence and configuration mixing are, however, a notorious challenge for theoretical models trying to reliably predict octupole collectivity in this mass region, which is known to feature rapid shape changes with changing nucleon number and spin of the system. To further investigate the microscopic configurations causing the prolate-oblate-triaxial shape transition at $A \approx 72$ and their influence on octupole…
We study the interplay of quadrupole and octupole degrees of freedom in the structure of the isotope $^{144}$Ba. A symmetry conserving configuration mixing method (SCCM) based on a Gogny energy density functional (EDF) has been used. The method includes particle number, parity and angular momentum restoration as well as axial quadrupole and octupole shape mixing within the generator coordinate method. Predictions both for excitation energies and electromagnetic transition probabilities are in good agreement with the most recent experimental data.
There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable pear shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole ($E3$) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in $^{222,228}$Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multi-step Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of $E$3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing $^{222}$Ra as pear…
Quadrupole and octupole deformation energy surfaces, low-energy excitation spectra, and electric transition rates in eight neutron-rich isotopic chains -- Ra, Th, U, Pu, Cm, Cf, Fm, and No -- are systematically analyzed using a quadrupole-octupole collective Hamiltonian model, with parameters determined by constrained reflection-asymmetric and axially-symmetric relativistic mean-field calculations based on the PC-PK1 energy density functional. The theoretical results of low-lying negative-parity bands, odd-even staggering, average octupole deformations $\langleβ_3\rangle$, and $B(E3; 3^-_1\to …
Mid-heavy nuclei offer unique opportunities to study the collective and single-particle aspects of nuclear structure. This mass regime is a dynamic area where protons and neutrons generally occupy different orbitals, giving rise to complex structures with a wide variety of shapes, shape evolution and shape coexistence. To that end, measurements of nuclear lifetimes and electromagnetic moments ($μ$,$Q$) can be invaluable. Recent experimental activities of the NuSTRAP group in Athens have focused on $γ$-spectroscopy studies employing the RoSPHERE array in Magurele, Romania. In recent studies [1,…
Octupole correlations in the low-energy collective states of neutron-rich nuclei with the neutron number $N\approx56$ are studied within the interacting boson model (IBM) that is based on the nuclear density functional theory. The constrained self-consistent mean-field (SCMF) calculations using a universal energy density functional and a pairing interaction provide the potential energy surfaces in terms of the axially-symmetric quadrupole and octupole deformations for the even-even nuclei $^{86-94}$Se, $^{88-96}$Kr, $^{90-98}$Sr, $^{92-100}$Zr, and $^{94-102}$Mo. The SCMF energy surface is the…
Predicting the properties of neutron-rich nuclei far from the valley of stability is one of the major challenges of modern nuclear theory. In heavy and superheavy nuclei, a difference of only a few neutrons is sufficient to change the dominant fission mode. A theoretical approach capable of predicting such rapid transitions for neutron-rich systems would be a valuable tool to better understand r-process nucleosynthesis or the decay of super-heavy elements. In this work, we investigate for the first time the transition from asymmetric to symmetric fission through the calculation of primary fiss…
A quantitative analysis of the evolution of nuclear shapes and shape phase transitions, including regions of short-lived nuclei that are becoming accessible in experiments at radioactive-beam facilities, necessitate accurate modeling of the underlying nucleonic dynamics. Important theoretical advances have recently been made in studies of complex shapes and the corresponding excitation spectra and electromagnetic decay patterns, especially in the "beyond mean-field" framework based on nuclear density functionals. Interesting applications include studies of shape evolution and coexistence in N …
Hindered $ΔK=1$ Dipole Strength in octupole bands in $N=90$ $^{154}$Gd from Lifetime Measurements with $γ-γ$ fast timing technique
Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre（可变能量回旋加速器中心）；Homi Bhabha National Institute（霍米·巴巴国家研究所）；Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院近代物理研究所）；Department of Physics, Hokkaido University（北海道大学物理学系）；Nuclear Reaction Data Center, Hokkaido University（北海道大学核反应数据中心）；Grand Accèlèrateur National d’Ions Lourds（重离子大型加速器）
Imprints of octupole collectivity in uranium-238 on relativistic heavy-ion flow observables
Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Ion-beam Application (MOE), and Institute of Modern Physics, Fudan University（复旦大学现代物理研究所）；Shanghai Research Center for Theoretical Nuclear Physics, NSFC and Fudan University（复旦大学理论物理研究中心）；Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University（石溪大学化学系）；Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory（布鲁克海文国家实验室物理部）；Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University（韦恩州立大学物理与天文学系）；RIKEN BNL Research Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory（布鲁克海文国家实验室理研BNL研究中心）；Physics Department and Center for Particle Physics and Field Theory, Fudan University（复旦大学物理系及粒子物理与场论中心）
The ground and first excited 0+ states of the {156-172}Er isotopes are analyzed in the framework of the generator coordinate method. The shape parameter beta is used to generate wave functions with different deformations which together with the two-quasiparticle states built on them provide a set of states. An angular momentum and particle number projection of the latter spawn the basis states of the generator coordinate method. With this ansatz and using the separable pairing plus quadrupole interaction we obtain a good agreement with the experimental spectra and E2 transition rates up to mod…
The phenomena of shape evolution and shape coexistence in even-even $^{88-126}$Zr and $^{88-126}$Mo isotopes is studied by employing covariant density functional theory (CDFT) with density-dependent point coupling parameter sets DD-PCX and DD-PC1, and with separable pairing interaction. The results for rms deviation in binding energies, two-neutron separation energy, the differential variation of two-neutron separation energy, and rms charge radii, as a function of neutron number, are presented and compared with available experimental data. In addition to the oblate-prolate shape coexistence i…
We report on the results of the calculations of the low energy excitation patterns for three Zirconium isotopes, viz. $^{80}$Zr$_{40}$, $^{96}$Zr$_{56}$ and $^{110}$Zr$_{70}$, reported by other authors to be doubly-magic tetrahedral nuclei (with tetrahedral magic numbers $Z$=40 and $N$=40, 56 and 70). We employ the realistic Gogny effective interactions using three variants of their parametrisation and the particle-number, parity and the angular-momentum projection techniques. We confirm quantitatively that the resulting spectra directly follow the pattern expected from the group theory consid…
The properties of the low-lying states, especially the relevant shape coexistence in $^{80}$Ge close to one of most neutron-rich doubly magic nuclei at $N=50$ and $Z=28$ have been investigated within the framework of the proton-neutron interacting model (IBM-2). Based on the fact that the relative energy of the $d$ neutron boson is different from proton bosons', the calculated energy levels of low-lying states, $E2$ transition strengths can reproduce the experimental data very well. Particularly, the first excited state 0$^+_2$ is reproduced quite nicely, which is intimately related with the s…
Continuum quasiparticle random-phase approximation for $(n,γ)$ reactions on neutron-rich nuclei: collectivity and resonances in low-energy cross section
