We review the properties of nuclear halos and nuclear skins in drip line nuclei in the framework of the spherical Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov theory with continuum effects and projection on good particle number with the Gogny force. We first establish the position of the un-projected HFB drip lines for the two most employed parametrizations of the Gogny force and show that the use of finite-range interactions leads almost always to small-sized halos, even in the least bound nuclei, which is in agreement with most mean-field predictions. We also discuss the size of the neutron skin at the drip line and its relation to neutron asymmetry. The impact of particle-number projection and its conceptual consequences near the drip line are analyzed in detail. In particular, we discuss the role of the chemical potential in a projected theory and the criteria required to define the drip line. We show that including particle number projection can shift the latter, in particular near closed shells. We notice that, as a result, the size of the halo can be increased due to larger pairing correlations. However, combining the most realistic pairing interaction, a proper treatment of the continuum and particle number projection does not permit to reproduce the very large halos observed in very light nuclei.
We have developed a new HFB code that specifically addresses nuclear structure physics near the driplines. The HFB equations are solved on a two-dimensional lattice for axially symmetric even-even nuclei using B-Spline techniques. The quasiparticle energy spectrum is obtained by direct diagonalization of the HFB lattice Hamiltonian with LAPACK. The energy spectrum extends high into the continuum, up to several thousand MeV. Calculations with Skyrme forces and (density-dependent) delta pairing interactions are now underway.
The canonical-basis HFB method provides an efficient way to describe pairing correlations involving the continuum part of the single-particle spectrum in coordinate-space representations. It can be applied to super-conducting deformed drip-line nuclei as easily as to stable or spherical nuclei. This method is applied to a simulation of the approach to the neutron drip line. It turns out that the HFB solution has a stronger pairing and a smaller deformation as the Fermi level is raised. However, such changes are smooth and finite. No divergences or discontinuities of the radius or other quantit…
We discuss novel features of a new continuum RPA formulated in the coordinate-space Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov framework. This continuum quasiparticle RPA takes into account both the one- and two-particle escaping channels. The theory is tested with numerical calculations for monopole, dipole and quadrupole excitations in neutron-rich oxygen isotopes near the drip-line. Effects of the particle-particle RPA correlation caused by the pairing interaction are discussed in detail, and importance of the selfconsistent treatment is emphasized.
The Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) equations in coordinate representation are solved exactly, i.e., with correct asymptotic boundary conditions for the continuous spectrum. The calculations are preformed with effective Skyrme interactions. The exact HFB solutions are compared with HFB calculations based on box boundary conditions and with resonant continuum Hartree-Fock-BCS (HF-BCS) results. The comparison is done for the neutron-rich Ni isotopes. It is shown that close to the drip line the amount of pairing correlations depends on how the continuum coupling is treated. On the other hand, the r…
We have developed a new Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) code which has been specifically designed to study ground state properties of nuclei near the neutron and proton drip lines. The unique feature of our code is that it takes into account the strong coupling to high-energy continuum states, up to an equivalent single-particle energy of 60 MeV. We solve the HFB equations for deformed, axially symmetric even-even nuclei in coordinate space on a 2-D lattice with Basis-Spline methods. For the p-h channel, the Skyrme (SLy4) effective N-N interaction is utilized, and for the p-p and h-h channel we …
We present the first set of results of solving the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov equations, which describe the self-consistent mean field theory with pairing interaction. Calculations for even-even nuclei are carried out on a two-dimensional axially symmetric lattice, in coordinate space. An important aspect of our method is the proper representation of the quasi-particle continuum wavefunctions, which are considered for energies up to 60 MeV. This stage is essential for a proper description of nuclei near the drip lines, due to the strong coupling between weakly bound states and the particle contin…
We discuss the HFB equations in coordinate representation,a suitable method for handling the full effects of the continuous quasiparticle spectrum. We show how the continuum HFB equations can be solved with the correct asymptotic conditions instead of the discretization conditions which are commonly used in the literature. The continuum HFB method is illustrated with a model where the mean field and pairing field have simple forms. The relationship with the continuum Hartree-Fock-BCS (HF-BCS) approximation is also discussed. Realistic HFB and HF-BCS calculations based on Skyrme interactions ar…
An improved prescription for choosing a transformed harmonic oscillator (THO) basis for use in configuration-space Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculations is presented. The new HFB+THO framework that follows accurately reproduces the results of coordinate-space HFB calculations for spherical nuclei, including those that are weakly bound. Furthermore, it is fully automated, facilitating its use in systematic investigations of large sets of nuclei throughout the periodic table. As a first application, we have carried out calculations using the Skyrme Force SLy4 and volume pairing, with exact …
Starting from HFB-6, we have constructed a new mass table, referred to as HFB-8, including all the 9200 nuclei lying between the two drip lines over the range of Z and N > 6 and Z < 122. It differs from HFB-6 in that the wave function is projected on the exact particle number. Like HFB-6, the isoscalar effective mass is constrained to the value 0.80 M and the pairing is density independent. The rms errors of the mass-data fit is 0.635 MeV, i.e. better than almost all our previous HFB mass formulas. The extrapolations of this new mass formula out to the drip lines do not differ significantly fr…
Role of pairing correlation for emergence of low-frequency vibrational excitations in neutron drip line nuclei is discussed paying special attention to neutrons with small orbital angular momentum l. Self-consistent pairing correlation in the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) theory causes the change of the spatial structure of the quasiparticle wave functions; "the pairing anti-halo effect" in the lower component and "the broadening effect" in the upper component. The resultant spatial distribution of the two-quasiparticle states among low-l neutrons, "the broad localization", brings about qualit…
Nuclei far from stability are studied by solving the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) equations, which describe the self-consistent mean field theory with pairing interaction. Calculations for even-even nuclei are carried out on two-dimensional axially symmetric lattice, in coordinate space. The quasiparticle continuum wavefunctions are considered for energies up to 60 MeV. Nuclei near the drip lines have a strong coupling between weakly bound states and the particle continuum. This method gives a proper description of the ground state properties of such nuclei. High accuracy is achieved by repre…
We perform the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculations for ground states of even Mg isotopes using the Skyrme force and a density-dependent zero-range pairing force. The HFB equation is solved in a three-dimensional cartesian mesh, and a convergence of deformation is carefully examined with respect to a cut-off radius for a check of the calculations. We discuss systematics of the two-neutron separation energy, deformation and root-mean-square radius. We have found that 36,38,40Mg have appreciable static deformation, where 40Mg is a two-neutron drip-line nucleus in our calculation, and the d…
We have constructed four new complete mass tables, referred to as HFB-4 to HFB-7, each one including all the 9200 nuclei lying between the two drip lines over the range of Z and N>8 and Z<120. HFB-4 and HFB-5 have the isoscalar effective mass M*_s$ constrained to the value 0.92 M, with the former having a density-independent pairing, and the latter a density-dependent pairing. HFB-6 and HFB-7 are similar, except that M*_s is constrained to 0.8 M. The rms errors of the mass-data fits are 0.680, 0.675, 0.686, and 0.676 MeV, respectively, almost as good as for the HFB-2 mass formula, for which M*…
We report the first calculations of nuclear properties near the drip-lines using the spherical Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov mean-field theory with a finite-range force supplemented by continuum and particle number projection effects. Calculations were carried out in a basis made of the eigenstates of a Woods-Saxon potential computed in a box, thereby garanteeing that continuum effects were properly taken into account. Projection of the self-consistent solutions on good particle number was carried out after variation, and an approximation of the variation after projection result was used. We give th…
To search for new candidates of the true and simultaneous two-proton ($2p$) radioactivity, the $2p$ decay energies (\textit{Q}$_{2p}$) are extracted by the Weizsäcker-Skyrme-4 (WS4) model, the finite-range droplet model (FRDM), the Kourra-Tachibaba-Uno-Yamada (KTUY) model and the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov mean-field model with the BSk29 Skyrme interaction (HFB29). Then, the $2p$ radioactivity half-lives are calculated within the generalized liquid drop model (GLDM) by inputting the four types of \textit{Q}$_{2p}$ values. By the energy and half-life constraints, it is found that the probable $2p$…
The neutron pairing correlation and the soft dipole excitation in medium-mass nuclei near drip-line are investigated from a viewpoint of the di-neutron correlation. Numerical analyses by means of the coordinate-space HFB and the continuum QRPA methods are performed for even-even $^{18-24}$O, $^{50-58}$Ca and $^{80-86}$Ni. A clear signature of the di-neutron correlation is found in the HFB ground state; two neutrons are correlated at short relative distances $\lesim 2$ fm with large probability $\sim 50%$. The soft dipole excitation is influenced strongly by the neutron pairing correlation, and…
We describe the program HFBTHO for axially deformed configurational Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations with Skyrme-forces and zero-range pairing interaction using Harmonic-Oscillator and/or Transformed Harmonic-Oscillator states. The particle-number symmetry is approximately restored using the Lipkin-Nogami prescription, followed by an exact particle number projection after the variation. The program can be used in a variety of applications, including systematic studies of wide ranges of nuclei, both spherical and axially deformed, extending all the way out to nucleon drip lines.
Exotic and drip-line nuclei as well as nuclei immersed in a low density gas of neutrons in the outer crust of neutron stars are systematically investigated with respect to their neutron pairing properties. This is done using Skyrme density-functional and different pairing forces such as a density-dependent contact interaction and a separable form of a finite-range Gogny interaction. Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov and BCS theories are compared. It is found that neutron pairing is reduced towards the drip line while overcast by strong shell effects. Furthermore resonances in the continuum can have an i…
We present a number conserving particle-hole RPA theory for collective excitations in the transition from normal to superfluid nuclei. The method derives from an RPA theory developed long ago in quantum chemistry using antisymmetric geminal powers, or equivalently number projected HFB states, as reference states. We show within a minimal model of pairing plus monopole interactions that the number conserving particle-hole RPA excitations evolve smoothly across the superfluid phase transition close to the exact results, contrary to particle-hole RPA in the normal phase and quasiparticle RPA in t…
We formulate a continuum linear response theory on the basis of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov formalism in the coordinate space representation in order to describe low-lying and high-lying collective excitations which couple to one-particle and two-particle continuum states. Numerical analysis is done for the neutron drip-line nucleus $^{24}$O. A low-lying collective mode that emerges above the continuum threshold with large neutron strength is analyzed. The collective state is sensitive to the density-dependence of the pairing. The present theory satisfies accurately the energy weighted sum rul…
Background: The symmetry-unrestricted Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) simulation is important for describing various quantum many-body systems. However, the HFB problem in Cartesian coordinate space is numerically challenging. Purpose: For describing ground states without imposing axial symmetry and looking ahead to future extension for dynamics with full time dependence, we present a numerically efficient implementation of the three-dimensional (3D) HFB code. Methods: We develop a 3D Skyrme HFB code based on the mixed-basis representation (HFBmix) which consists of two harmonic-oscillator (HO) …
Important features of low-frequency collective vibrational excitations in neutron drip line nuclei are studied. We emphasize that pairing anti-halo effect in the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) theory play crucial roles to realize collective motions in loosely bound nuclei. We study the spatial properties of one particle - one hole (1p-1h) states with/without selfconsistent pairing correlations by solving simplified HF(B) equations in coordinate space. Next, by performing Skyrme-HFB plus selfconsistent quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) we investigate the first 2+ states in neutron …
The phenomena of giant halo and halo of neutron-rich even-Ca isotopes are investigated and compared in the framework of the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) and non-relativistic Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculations. With two parameter sets for each of the RCHB and the Skyrme HFB calculations, it is found that although halo phenomena exist for Ca isotopes near neutron drip line in both calculations, the halo of the Skyrme HFB calculations starts at a more neutron-rich nucleus than that of the RCHB calculations, and the RCHB calculations have larger neutron root-mean…
Recently we proposed a particle-number-conserving theory for nuclear pairing [Jia, Phys. Rev. C 88, 044303 (2013)] through the generalized density matrix formalism. The relevant equations were solved for the case when each single-particle level has a distinct set of quantum numbers and could only pair with its time-reversed partner (BCS-type Hamiltonian). In this work we consider the more general situation when several single-particle levels could have the same set of quantum numbers and pairing among these levels is allowed (HFB-type Hamiltonian). The pair condensate wavefunction (the HFB wav…
The coordinate space formulation of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) method enables self-consistent treatment of mean-field and pairing in weakly bound systems whose properties are affected by the particle continuum space. Of particular interest are neutron-rich, deformed drip-line nuclei which can exhibit novel properties associated with neutron skin. To describe such systems theoretically, we developed an accurate 2D lattice Skyrme-HFB solver {\hfbax} based on B-splines. Compared to previous implementations, we made a number of improvements aimed at boosting the solver's performance. These …
Weakly-bound deformed nuclei have been studied by the Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) approach in large coordinate-space boxes. In particular, the box-size dependence of the HFB calculations of weakly-bound deformed nuclei are investigated, including the particle density and pairing density distributions at nuclear surfaces, the near-threshold resonant and continuum quasiparticle spectra, and energetic properties. The box size may have larger influences in pairing properties than in other bulk properties. We demonstrate that large-box calculations of weakly-bound nuclei are important to p…
The Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov (HFB) problem for the cutoff local energy-density functional is solved numerically by using the Gor'kov formalism with an exact treatment of the particle continuum. The contributions from the resonant and "gas" continuum to the spectral density of the HFB eigenstates as well as the shifting and broadening of the discrete HF hole orbitals are clearly demonstrated with the illustrative example of the drip-line nucleus ^{70}Ca. The structure of the neutron density distribution in the localized ground state is analyzed, and the formation of its extended tail ("halo") is…
We present the first calculations of a symmetry conserving configuration mixing method (SCCM) using time-reversal symmetry breaking Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) states with the Gogny D1S interaction. The method includes particle number and tridimensional angular momentum symmetry restorations as well as configuration mixing within the generator coordinate method (GCM) framework. The nucleus $^{32}$Mg is chosen to show the performance and reliability of the calculations. Additionally, $0^{+}_{1}$, $2^{+}_{1}$ and $4^{+}_{1}$ states are computed for the magnesium isotopic chain, where a noticea…
We introduce a natural and simple to implement renormalization scheme of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) equations for the case of zero range pairing interaction. This renormalization scheme proves to be equivalent to a simple energy cut-off with a position or density dependent running coupling constant. Subsequently, we present self-consistent HFB calculations with a full consideration of the continuum of long chains of spherical tin and lead nuclei (essentially from one drip line to another) using the SLy5 interaction. In the pairing channel we use a zero range interaction, treated by mean…
We perform a systematic study of the ground-state properties of all the nuclei from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line throughout the periodic table employing the relativistic mean field model. The TMA parameter set is used for the mean-field Lagrangian density, and a state-dependent BCS method is adopted to describe the pairing correlation. The ground-state properties of a total of 6969 nuclei with $Z,N\ge 8$ and $Z\le 100$ from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line, including the binding energies, the separation energies, the deformations, and the rms charge radii, are cal…
A non-perturbative s-wave renormalization of the pion in a hot and baryon rich medium is presented. This approach proceeds via a mapping of the canonical pion into the axial Noether's charge. The mapping was made dynamical in the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov random phase approximation (HFB-RPA). It is shown that this approach, while order mixing, is still symmetry conserving both in the baryon free and baryon rich sectors, at zero as well as finite temperature. The systematic character of this approach is emphasized and it is particularly argued that it may constitute an interesting alternative for…
We present a computational methodology for a theory of the lowest octupole excitations applicable to all even-even nuclei beyond the lightest. The theory is the well-known generator-coordinate extension (GCM) of the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov self-consistent mean field theory (HFB). We use the discrete-basis Hill-Wheel method (HW) to compute the wave functions with an interaction from the Gogny family of Hamiltonians. Comparing to the compiled experimental data on octupole excitations, we find that the performance of the theory depends on the deformation characteristics of the nucleus. For nondef…
We perform a systematic study of all the traditional neutron magic nuclei with $N$ = 8, 20, 28, 50, 82, and 126, from the neutron drip line to the proton drip line. We adopt the deformed relativistic mean field (RMF) theory as our framework and treat pairing correlations by a simple BCS method with a zero-range $δ$-force. Remarkable agreement with the available experimental data is obtained for the binding energies, the two- and one-proton separation energies, and the nuclear charge radii. The calculated nuclear deformations are compared with the available experimental data and the predictions…
The shell correction method is revisited. Contrary to the traditional Strutinsky method, the shell energy is evaluated by an averaging over the number of particles and not over the single-particle energies, which is more consistent with the definition of the macroscopic energy. In addition, the smooth background is subtracted before averaging the sum of single-particle energies, which significantly improves the plateau condition and allows to apply the method also for nuclei close to the proton or neutron drip lines. A significant difference between the shell correction energy obtained with th…
We have recently developed an efficient method of performing the full quantum number projection from the most general mean-field (HFB type) wave functions including the angular momentum, parity as well as the proton and neutron particle numbers. With this method, we have been investigating several nuclear structure mechanisms. In this report, we discuss the obtained quantum rotational spectra of the tetrahedral nuclear states formulating certain experimentally verifiable criteria, of the high-spin states, focussing on the wobbling- and chiral-bands, and of the drip-line nuclei as illustrative …
Valuable theoretical predictions of nuclear dipole excitations in the whole nuclear chart are of great interest for different applications, including in particular nuclear astrophysics. We present here the systematic study of the electric dipole (E1) photon strength functions (PSFs) combining the microscopic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov plus Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation (HFB+QRPA) model and the parametrizations constrained by the available experimental giant dipole resonance (GDR) data. For about 10000 nuclei with 8<Z<124 lying between the proton and the neutron drip-lines on nuclear ch…
Nuclear superfludity in exotic nuclei close to the drip lines and in the inner crust matter of neutron stars have common features which can be treated with the same theoretical tools. In the first part of my lecture I discuss how two such tools, namely the HFB approach and the linear response theory can be used to describe the pairing correlations in weakly bound nuclei, in which the unbound part of the energy spectrum becomes important. Then, using the same models, I shall discuss how the nuclear superfluidity can affect the thermal properties of the inner crust of neutron stars.
Evolution of the shell structure of nuclei near the neutron drip line is investigated in the Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) theory. By introducing the vector self-coupling of $ω$ meson in the RHB theory, we reproduce successfully the experimental data on the shell effects about the waiting-point nucleus $^{80}$Zn. With this basis, it is shown that the shell effects at N=82 in the inaccessible region of the r-process path remain strong. In contrast, a quenching exhibited by the HFB+SkP approach is shown to be incompatible with the available data. Consequently, the neutrino-driven mechani…
The structure of nuclei far off beta-stability is investigated by nuclear many-body theory. In-medium interactions for asymmetric nuclear matter are obtained by (Dirac-) Brueckner theory thus establishing the link of nuclear forces to free space interactions. HFB and RPA theory is used to describe ground and excited states of nuclei from light to heavy masses. In extreme dripline systems pairing and core polarization are found to be most important for the binding, especially of halo nuclei. The calculations show that far off stability mean-field dynamics is gradually replaced by dynamical corr…
We have investigated the evolution of the shell structure of nuclei in going from the r-process path to the neutron drip line within the framework of the Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) theory. By introducing the quartic self-coupling of $ω$ meson in the RHB theory in addition to the non-linear scalar coupling of $σ$ meson, we reproduce the available data on the shell effects about the waiting-point nucleus $^{80}$Zn. With this approach, it is shown that the shell effects at N=82 in the inaccessible region of the r-process path become milder as compared to the Lagrangian with the scalar …
Neutron-induced reaction rates, including fission, are calculated in the temperature range 1.d8 <T (K) < 1.d10 within the framework of the statistical model for targets with atomic number 83 < Z < 119 (from Po to Uuo) from the neutron to the proton drip-line. Four sets of rates have been calculated, utilizing - where possible - consistent nuclear data for neutron separation energies and fission barriers from Thomas-Fermi (TF), Extended Thomas-Fermi plus Strutinsky Integral (ETFSI), Finite-Range Droplet Model (FRDM) and Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov (HFB) predictions. Tables of calculated values as w…
An update of a previous description of the BRUSLIB+NACRE package of nuclear data for astrophysics and of the web-based nuclear network generator NETGEN is presented. The new version of BRUSLIB contains the latest predictions of a wide variety of nuclear data based on the most recent version of the Brussels-Montreal Skyrme-HFB model. The nuclear masses, radii, spin/parities, deformations, single-particle schemes, matter densities, nuclear level densities, E1 strength functions, fission properties, and partition functions are provided for all nuclei lying between the proton and neutron drip line…
