The short-range nuclear attraction is stronger in the isoscalar channel than in the isovector channel, as evidenced by the existence of the deuteron and not the dineutron. Nevertheless, apart from light N=Z nuclei, pairing is only seen in the isovector channel. This is explained by the effect of the strong spin-orbit splitting on the single-particle energies. A semiquantitative argument is presented treating the high-j orbitals at the Fermi surface as plane waves on a two-dimensional sheet.
Neutron-proton (np-) pairing is expected to play an important role in the N Z nuclei. In general, it can have isovector and isoscalar character. The existence of isovector np-pairing is well established. On the contrary, it is still debated whether there is an isoscalar np-pairing. The review of the situation with these two types of pairing with special emphasis on the isoscalar one is presented. It is concluded that there are no substantial evidences for the existence of isoscalar np-pairing.
We show that the correlations generated in the ground state of $N=Z$ nuclei by the isovector and isoscalar pairing forces can be treated with high precision as a condensate of alpha-like quartets. To treat these correlations, the quartet condensation model (QCM) is extended to the treatment of spherically symmetric isovector $(T=1,J=0)$ and isoscalar $(T=0,J=1)$ pairing forces . Within QCM we discuss the competition between $T=1$ and $T=0$ pairing correlations in the case of a two-level model and for $N=Z$ nuclei with nucleons moving in the open shells above $^{16}$O, $^{40}$Ca and $^{100}$Sn.…
Isoscalar (T=0,J=1) and isovector (T=1,J=0) pairing correlations in the ground state of self-conjugate nuclei are treated in terms of alpha-like quartets built by two protons and two neutrons coupled to total isospin T=0 and total angular momentum J=0. Quartets are constructed dynamically via an iterative variational procedure and the ground state is represented as a product of such quartets. It is shown that the quartet formalism describes accurately the ground state energies of realistic isovector plus isoscalar pairing Hamiltonians in nuclei with valence particles outside the 16O, 40Ca and …
The spin magnetic dipole transitions and the neutron-proton spin-spin correlations in $sd-$shell even-even nuclei with $N=Z$ are investigated using shell model wave functions. The isoscalar spin-triplet pairing correlation provides a substantial quenching effect on the spin magnetic dipole transitions, especially the isovector (IV) ones. Consequently, an enhanced isoscalar spin-triplet pairing interaction influences the proton-neutron spin-spin correlation deduced from the difference between the isoscalar (IS) and the IV sum rule strengths. The effect of the $Δ$ ($Δ_{33}$ resonance)-hole coupl…
We use shell model techniques in the complete pf shell to study pair correlations in nuclei. Particular attention is paid to the competition of isoscalar and isovector proton-neutron pairing modes which is investigated in the odd-odd N=Z nucleus 46V and in the chain of even Fe-isotopes. We confirm the dominance of isovector pairing in the ground states. An inspection of the level density and pair correlation strength in 46V, however, shows the increasing relative importance of isoscalar correlations with increasing excitation energy. In the Fe-isotopes we find the expected strong dependence of…
The isoscalar neutron-proton pairing is thought to be important for nuclei with equal number of protons and neutrons but its manifestation in structure properties remains to be understood. We investigate the Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions for the f7/2-shell nuclei in large-scale shell-model calculations with the realistic Hamiltonian. We show that the isoscalar T=0, J=1+ neutron-proton pairing interaction plays a decisive role for the concentration of GT strengths at the first-excited 1+ state in 42Sc, and that the suppression of these strengths in 46V, 50Mn, and 54Co is mainly caused by the sp…
The isoscalar proton-neutron pairing and isovector pairing, including both isovector proton-neutron pairing and like-particle pairing, are treated in a formalism which conserves exactly the particle number and the isospin. The formalism is designed for self-conjugate (N=Z) systems of nucleons moving in axially deformed mean fields and interacting through the most general isovector and isoscalar pairing interactions. The ground state of these systems is described by a superposition of two types of condensates, i.e., condensates of isovector quartets, built by two isovector pairs coupled to the …
We study the isoscalar (T=0) and isovector (T=1) pairing correlations in N=Z nuclei. They are estimated from the double difference of binding energies for odd-odd N=Z nuclei and the odd-even mass difference for the neighboring odd-mass nuclei, respectively. The empirical and BCS calculations based on a T=0 and T=1 pairing model reproduce well the almost degeneracy of the lowest T=0 and T=1 states over a wide range of even-even and odd-odd N=Z nuclei. It is shown that this degeneracy is attributed to competition between the isoscalar and isovector pairing correlations in N=Z nuclei. The calcula…
We propose a particle number conserving formalism for the treatment of isovector-isoscalar pairing in nuclei with $N>Z$. The ground state of the pairing Hamiltonian is described by a quartet condensate to which is appended a pair condensate formed by the neutrons in excess. The quartets are built by two isovector pairs coupled to the total isospin $T=0$ and two collective isoscalar proton-neutron pairs. To probe this ansatz for the ground state we performed calculations for $N>Z$ nuclei with the valence nucleons moving above the cores $^{16}$O, $^{40}$Ca and $^{100}$Sn. The calculations are do…
We analyse the contribution of isovector and isoscalar proton-neutron pairing to the binding energies of even-even nuclei with $N-Z=0,2,4$ and atomic mass $20 < A <100$. The binding energies are calculated in the mean-field approach by coupling a Skyrme-type functional to an isovector-isoscalar pairing force of zero range. The latter is treated in the framework of quartet condensation model (QCM), which conserves exactly the particle number and the isospin. The interdependence of pairing and deformation is taken into account by performing self-consistent Skyrme-HF+QCM calculations in the intri…
The quartet condensation model (QCM) is extended for the treatment of isovector and isoscalar pairing in odd-odd N=Z nuclei. In the extended QCM approach the lowest states of isospin T=1 and T=0 in odd-odd nuclei are described variationally by trial functions composed by a proton-neutron pair appended to a condensate of 4-body operators. The latter are taken as a linear superposition of an isovector quartet, built by two isovector pairs coupled to the total isospin T=0, and two collective isoscalar pairs. In all pairs the nucleons are distributed in time-reversed single-particle states of axia…
We perform a systematic study of Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in the 2p1f shell, using the nuclear shell model with two schematic Hamiltonians. The use of the shell model provides flexibility to analyze the role of different proton-neutron pairing modes in the presence of nuclear deformation. The schematic Hamiltonians that are used contain a quadrupole-quadrupole interaction as well as isoscalar (T=0) and isovector (T=1) pairing interactions, but differ in the single particle energies. The objective of the work is to observe the behavior of GT transitions in different isoscalar and isovector…
The long standing problem of proton-neutron pairing and, in particular, the limitations imposed on the solutions by the available symmetries, is revisited. We look for solutions with non-vanishing expectation values of the proton, the neutron and the isoscalar gaps. For an equal number of protons and neutrons we find two solutions where the absolute values of proton and neutrons gaps are equal but have the same or opposite sign. The behavior and structure of these solutions differ for spin saturated (single l-shell) and spin unsaturared systems (single j-shell). In the former case the BCS resu…
The spin magnetic dipole transitions and the neutron-proton spin-spin correlations in $sd-$shell even-even nuclei with $N=Z$ are investigated using shell model wave functions taking into accout enhanced isoscalar (IS) spin-triplet pairing as well as the effective spin operators. It was shown that the IS pairing and the effective spin operators gives a large quenching effect on the IV spin transitions to be consistent with observed data by $(p,p')$ experiments. On the other hand, the observed IS spin strength show much smaller quenching effect than expected by the calculated results. The IS pai…
Thermal behavior of isoscalar and isovector proton-neutron (pn) pairing energies at finite temperature are investigated by the shell model calculations. These pn pairing energies can be estimated by double differences of "thermal" energies which are extended from the double differences of binding energies as the indicators of pn pairing energies at zero temperature. We found that the delicate balance between isoscalar and isovector pn pairing energies at zero temperature disappears at finite temperature. When temperature rises, while the isovector pn pairing energy decreases, the isoscalar pn …
Rotational and deformation dependence of isovector and isoscalar pairing correlations at finite temperature are studied in an exactly solvable cranked deformed shell model Hamiltonian. It is shown that isovector pairing correlations, as expected, decrease with increasing deformation and the isoscalar pairing correlations remain constant at temperature, T=0. However, it is observed that at finite temperature both isovector and isoscalar pairing correlations are enhanced with increasing deformation, which contradict the mean-field predictions. It is also demonstrated that the pair correlations, …
L=0 proton-neutron ($pn$) pair-addition and pair-removal strengths in $^{40}$Ca and $^{56}$Ni are investigated by means of the $pn$ particle-particle random-phase approximation employing a Skyrme energy-density functional. It is found that the collectivity of the lowest $J^π= 1^+$ state in the adjacent odd-odd nuclei becomes stronger as the strength of the isoscalar (T=0) pairing interaction increases. The results suggest the emergence of the T=0 $pn$-pairing vibrational mode as a possible critical phenomenon toward the T=0 pairing condensation.
We investigate the phase coherence of isoscalar pairs from the $B({\rm GT};0^+_1\,T\!=\!1 \to 1^+_1\,T\!=\!0)$ values in two-particle configurations of $A=6$, 18, and 42 nuclei and two-hole configurations of $A=14$ and 38 ones. We find that these Gamow-Teller (GT) matrix elements are always constructive and thus enlarged under isovector- and isoscalar-pairing Hamiltonians, whereas the observed GT strengths are strongly hindered for the two-hole configurations, including the famous $^{14}$C dating $β$ decay. This indicates that the actual isoscalar pair, unlike the isovector pair, has no defini…
I propose a new method to determine the strength of the isoscalar proton-neutron pairing interaction by a mathematical identity derived in the quasiparticle random-phase approximation. This method is applied for a few nuclei possibly having the neutrinoless double-$β$ decay. Reduced half-life, the theoretical quantity necessary for determining the effective neutrino mass, is calculated for $^{48}$Ca.
The $T$=2 excitations in even-even $N$=$Z$ nuclei are calculated within the isospin cranked mean-field approach. The response of pairing correlations to rotation in isospace is investigated. It is shown that whereas the isovector pairing rather modestly modifies the single-particle moment of inertia in isospace, the isoscalar pairing strongly reduces its value. This reduction of the moments of inertia in isospace with respect to its rigid body value is a strong indicator of collective isoscalar pairing correlations. Beautiful analogies between the role of isovector pairing for the case of spat…
The subtle interplay between the two nuclear superfluids, isovector T=1 and isoscalar T=0 phases, are investigated in an exactly soluble model. It is shown that T=1 and T=0 pair-modes decouple in the exact calculations with the T=1 pair-energy being independent of the T=0 pair-strength and vice-versa. In the rotating-field, the isoscalar correlations remain constant in contrast to the well known quenching of isovector pairing. An increase of the isoscalar (J=1, T=0) pair-field results in a delay of the bandcrossing frequency. This behaviour is shown to be present only near the N=Z line and its…
Self-consistent proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation based on the spherical nonlinear point-coupling relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory is established and used to investigate the $β^+$/EC-decay half-lives of neutron-deficient Ar, Ca, Ti, Fe, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Sn isotopes. The isoscalar proton-neutron pairing is found to play an important role in reducing the decay half-lives, which is consistent with the same mechanism in the $β$ decays of neutron-rich nuclei. The experimental $β^+$/EC-decay half-lives can be well reproduced by a universal isoscalar proton-neutron pairing …
It is pointed out that the ground state of n neutrons and n protons in a single-j shell, interacting through an isoscalar (T=0) pairing force, is not paired, J=0, but rather spin-aligned, J=n. This observation is explained in the context of a model of isoscalar P (J=1) pairs, which is mapped onto a system of p bosons, leading to an approximate analytic solution of the isoscalar-pairing limit in jj coupling.
We examine isovector and isoscalar neutron-proton correlations in an exactly solvable model based on the algebra SO(8). We look particularly closely at Gamow-Teller strength and double beta decay, both to isolate the effects of the two kinds of pairing and to test two approximation schemes: the renormalized neutron-proton QRPA (RQRPA) and generalized BCS theory. When isoscalar pairing correlations become strong enough a phase transition occurs and the dependence of the Gamow-Teller beta+ strength on isospin changes in a dramatic and unfamiliar way, actually increasing as neutrons are added to …
We examine isovector and isoscalar proton-neutron pairing correlations for the ground state of even-even Ge isotopes with mass number A=64-76 within the deformed BCS approach. For N=Z 64Ge the BCS solution with only T=0 proton-neutron pairs is found. For other nuclear systems (N>Z) a coexistence of a T=0 and T=1 pairs in the BCS wave function is observed. A problem of fixing of strengths of isoscalar and isovector pairing interactions is addressed. A dependence of number of like and unlike pairs in the BCS ground state on the difference between number of neutrons and protons is discussed. We f…
A new method has been proposed to determine the strength of the isoscalar proton-neutron pairing interaction applicable to many nuclei. The principle is the equivalence between the double charge change and the double transfer of like-particle pair, and a constraint is derived to the effective interactions used in approximations. This method was applied to the quasiparticle random-phase approximation for determining that interaction strength. In this paper, detail of this method is explained thoroughly, and applications are made to nuclei of several instances of the double-$β$ decays. The syste…
The isoscalar (IS) and isovector (IV) quadrupole responses of nuclei are systematically investigated using the time-dependent Skyrme Energy Density Functional including pairing in the BCS approximation. Using two different Skyrme functionals, Sly4 and SkM*, respectively 263 and 304 nuclei have been found to be spherical along the nuclear charts. The time-dependent evolution of these nuclei has been systematically performed giving access to their quadrupole responses. It is shown that the mean-energy of the collective high energy state globally reproduces the experimental IS and IV collective e…
We review several experimental and theoretical advances that emphasise common aspects of the study of T=1 and T=0 pairing correlations in nuclei. We first discuss several empirical evidences of the special role played by the T=1 pairing interaction. In particular, we show the peculiar features of the nuclear pairing interaction in the low density regime, and possible outcomes such as the BCS-BEC crossover in nuclear matter and, in an analogous way, in loosely bound nuclei. We then move to the competition between T=1 and T=0 pairing correlations. The effect of such competition on the low-lying …
We discuss the isoscalar $T=0, S=1$ pairing correlation in the low-lying states of $^{102}{\rm Sb}={}^{100}{\rm Sn}+p+n$ nucleus. To this end, we employ ${\rm core}+p+n$ three-body model with the model space constructed by self-consistent mean-field calculations. The model is developed with both non-relativistic and relativistic effective interactions, the latter of which are found to be more realistic for the present case due to the pseudo-spin symmetry. It turns out that the $(L,S,T)=(0,1,0)$ pairing scheme is strongly hindered in $^{102}$Sb with the relativistic model because of the near de…
We describe the importance of charge-exchange reactions, and in particular Gamow-Teller transitions, in astrophysical processes and double beta decay, and in understanding of nuclear structure. We first provide an overview of the central role played by the isovector pairing and the quadrupole-quadrupole channels in the description of energy spectra and in the manifestation of collective modes, some associated with deformation of the nuclear shape. We then turned our focus to Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in relatively light nuclei, especially in the 2p1f shell, where isoscalar pairing may be p…
The self-consistent proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation approach is employed to calculate $β$-decay half-lives of neutron-rich even-even nuclei with $8\leqslant Z \leqslant 30$. A newly proposed nonlinear point-coupling effective interaction PC-PK1 is used in the calculations. It is found that the isoscalar proton-neutron pairing interaction can significantly reduce $β$-decay half-lives. With an isospin-dependent isoscalar proton-neutron pairing strength, our results well reproduce the experimental $β$-decay half-lives, although the pairing strength is not adjusted using th…
We have proposed in a series of previous papers a method to determine the effective axial-vector current coupling and the strength of the isoscalar proton-neutron pairing interaction for calculating the nuclear matrix elements of the neutrinoless double-$β$ decay by the quasiparticle random-phase approximation. The combination of these two parameters have had an uncertainty in this approach, but now this uncertainty is removed. In this paper, we apply our method to the neutrinoless double-$β$ decays of $^{136}$Xe and $^{130}$Te and predict the nuclear matrix elements and reduced half-lives. Ou…
The isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) in Cd, Sn and Pb isotopes has been studied within the self-consistent Skyrme Hartree-Fock+BCS and quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA). Three Skyrme parameter sets are used in the calculations, i.e., SLy5, SkM* and SkP, since they are characterized by different values of the compression modulus in symmetric nuclear matter, namely K=230, 217, and 202 MeV, respectively. We also investigate the effect of different types of pairing forces on the ISGMR in Cd, Sn and Pb isotopes. The calculated peak energies and the strength distributions of…
A model combining self-consistent mean-field and shell-model techniques is used to study the competition between particle like and proton-neutron pairing correlations in fp-shell even-even self-conjugate nuclei. Results obtained using constant two-body pairing interactions as well as more sophisticated interactions are presented and discussed. The standard BCS calculations are systematically compared with more refined approaches including correlation effects beyond the independent quasi-particle approach. The competition between proton-neutron correlations in the isoscalar and isovector channe…
We show that the symmetry-restored paired mean-field states (quasiparticle vacua) properly account for isoscalar versus isovector nuclear pairing properties. Full particle-number, spin, and isospin symmetries are restored in a simple SO(8) proton-neutron pairing model, and prospects to implement a similar approach in a realistic setting are delineated. Our results show that, provided all symmetries are restored, the pictures based on pair-condensate and quartet-condensate wave functions represent equivalent ways of looking at the physics of nuclear proton-neutron pairing.
A shell-model study of proton-neutron pairing in f - p shell nuclei using a parametrized hamiltonian that includes deformation and spin-orbit effects as well as isoscalar and isovector pairing is reported. By working in a shell-model framework we are able to assess the role of the various modes of proton-neutron pairing in the presence of nuclear deformation without violating symmetries. Results are presented for $^{44}$Ti, $^{46}$Ti and $^{48}$Cr.
The coupled dynamics of the isovector and isoscalar giant quadrupole resonances and low lying modes (including scissors) are studied with the help of the Wigner Function Moments (WFM) method generalized to take into account pair correlations. Equations of motion for collective variables are derived on the basis of the Time Dependent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (TDHFB) equations in the harmonic oscillator model with quadrupole-quadrupole (QQ) residual interaction and a Gaussian pairing force. Special care is taken of the continuity equation.
Simple generic aspects of nuclear pairing in homogeneous medium as well as in finite nuclei are discussed. It is argued that low-energy nuclear structure is not sensitive enough to resolve fine details of nuclear nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction in general and pairing NN interaction in particular what allows for regularization of the ultraviolet (high-momentum) divergences and a consistent formulation of effective superfluid local theory. Some aspects of (dis)entanglement of pairing with various other effects as well as forefront ideas concerning isoscalar pairing are also briefly discussed.
The formal equivalence between the quartetting picture and the symmetry restored BCS picture is established for the ground state correlations induced by the general isovector-isoscalar pairing interaction. Multiple ground state structures compatible with the particle number and isospin symmetries are evaluated. The competition of isovector and isoscalar correlations is discussed for the $N=Z$ nuclei above $^{100}$Sn.
An exactly solvable sp(4) algebraic approach extends beyond the traditional isospin conserving nuclear interaction to bring forward effects of isospin symmetry breaking and isospin mixing resulting from a two-body nuclear interaction that includes proton-neutron (pn) and like-particle isovector pairing correlations plus significant isoscalar pn interactions. The model yields an estimate for the extent to which isobaric analog 0+ states in light and medium mass nuclei may mix with one another and reveals possible, but still extremely weak, non-analog beta-decay transitions.
The effective isospin-density dependent pairing interaction (P1) [S. S. Zhang, U. Lombardo and E. G. Zhao, Sci. Chin. Phys. Mech. Astro. {\bf 54}, 236 (2011)] extracted from neutron pairing gaps for $^1$S$_0$ in asymmetric nuclear matter calculations [S. S. Zhang, L. G. Cao, U. Lombardo, et al. Phys. Rev. C {\bf 81}, 044313 (2010)] is employed to study the bulk properties of Ca, Ni, Zr and Sn isotopes. The odd-even mass (OEM) staggering is calculated by the Skyrme Hartree-Fock plus BCS method (SHF + BCS) with the SkP interaction. For comparison, we study two other types of isovector effective …
Rotating $N=Z$ nuclei in the mass $A=58-80$ region have been studied within the framework of isovector mean field theory. Available data is well and systematically described in the calculations. The present study supports the presence of strong isovector $np$ pair field at low spin, which is, however, destroyed at high spin. No clear evidence for the existence of the isoscalar $t=0$ $np$ pairing has been found.
We investigate effects of pairing and of quadrupole deformation on two sorts of nuclear excitations,$γ$-vibrational $K^π=2^+$ states and dipole resonances (isovector dipole, pygmy, compression, toroidal). The analysis is performed within the quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) based on the Skyrme energy functional using the Skyrme parametrization SLy6. Particular attention is paid to i) the role of the particle-particle (pp) channel in the residual interaction of QRPA, ii) comparison of volume pairing (VP) and surface pairing (SP), iii) peculiarities of deformation splitting in the…
A shell-model study of proton-neutron pairing in $2p1f$ shell nuclei using a parametrized hamiltonian that includes deformation and spin-orbit effects as well as isoscalar and isovector pairing is reported. By working in a shell-model framework we are able to assess the role of the various modes of proton-neutron pairing in the presence of nuclear deformation without violating symmetries. Results are presented for $^{44}$Ti, $^{45}$Ti, $^{46}$Ti, $^{46}$V and $^{48}$Cr to assess how proton-neutron pair correlations emerge under different scenarios. We also study how the presence of a one-body …
We propose a self-consistent quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA) plus quasi-particle-vibration coupling (QPVC) model with Skyrme interactions to describe the width and the line shape of giant resonances in open-shell nuclei, in which the effect of superfluidity should be taken into account in both the ground state and the excited states. We apply the new model to the Gamow-Teller resonance in the superfluid nucleus $^{120}$Sn, including both the isoscalar spin-triplet and the isovector spin-singlet pairing interactions. The strength distribution in $^{120}$Sn is well reproduced an…
Recent published data on the isoscalar gap in symmetric nuclear matter using the Paris force and the corresponding BHF single particle dispersion are corrected leading to an extremely high proton-neutron gap of $Δ\sim 8$ MeV at $ρ\sim 0.5ρ_0$. Arguments whether this value can be reduced due to screening effects are discussed. A density dependent delta interaction with cut off is adjusted so as to approximately reproduce the nuclear matter values with the Paris force.
Within a simple SO(8) algebraic model, the coexistence between isoscalar and isovector pairing modes can be successfully described using a mean-field method plus restoration of broken symmetries. In order to port this methodology to real nuclei, we need to employ realistic density functionals in the pairing channel. In this article, we present an analytical derivation of matrix elements of a separable pairing interaction in Cartesian coordinates and we correct errors of derivations available in the literature. After implementing this interaction in the code hfodd, we study evolution of pairing…
Unlike their lighter counterparts, most odd-odd N=Z nuclei with mass A > 40 40 have ground states with isospin T=1, suggesting an increased role for the isovector pairing interaction. A simple SO(5) seniority-like model of this interaction reveals a striking and heretofore unnoticed interplay between like-particle and neutron-proton isovector pairing near N=Z that is reflected in the number of each kind of pair as a function of A and T. Large scale shell-model calculations exhibit the same trends, despite the simultaneous presence of isoscalar pairs, deformation, and other correlations.
The role of superfluidity in the incompressibility and in the symmetry energy is studied in nuclear matter and finite nuclei. Several pairing interactions are used: surface, mixed and isovector dependent. Pairing has a small effect on the nuclear matter incompressibility at saturation density, but the effects are significant at lower densities. The pairing effect on the centroid energy of the isoscalar Giant Monopole Resonance (GMR) is also evaluated for Pb and Sn isotopes by using a microscopic constrained-HFB approach, and found to change at most by 10% the nucleus incompressibility $K_A$. I…
Based on a microscopic description of superfluidity in overflowing nuclear systems, it is shown that continuum coupling plays an important role in the suppression, the persistence and the reentrance of pairing. In such systems, the structure of the drip-line nucleus determines the suppression and the persistence of superfluidity. The reentrance of pairing with increasing temperature leads to additional critical temperatures between the normal and superfluid phases.
A systematic investigation of the rotating $N=Z$ even-even nuclei in the mass $A=58-80$ region has been performed within the frameworks of the Cranked Relativistic Mean field, Cranked Relativistic Hartree Bogoliubov theories and cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky approach. Most of the experimental data is well accounted for in the calculations. The present study suggests that there is strong isovector $np$-pair field at low spin, the strength of which is defined by the isospin symmetry. At high spin, the isovector pair field is destroyed and the data are well described by the calculations assuming zer…
The influence of the isoscalar and isovector L=0 pairing components of the effective nucleon-nucleon interaction is evaluated for several isobaric chains, in the framework of full pf shell model calculations. We show that the combined effect of both isospin channels of the pairing force is responsible for the appearance of T=1 ground states in N=Z odd-odd nuclei. However, no evidence is found relating them to the Wigner energy. We study the dependence of their contributions to the total energy on the rotational frecuency in the deformed nucleus 48Cr. Both decrease with increasing angular momen…
We investigate the extent to which theories of collective motion can capture the physics that determines the nuclear matrix elements governing neutrinoless double-beta decay. To that end we calculate the matrix elements for a series of isotopes in the full $pf$ shell, omitting no spin-orbit partners. With the inclusion of isoscalar pairing, a separable collective Hamiltonian that is derived from the shell model effective interaction reproduces the full shell-model matrix elements with good accuracy. A version of the generator coordinate method that includes the isoscalar pairing amplitude as a…
Excitation spectra of T=0,1,2 states in even-even (e-e) and odd-odd (o-o) N=Z nuclei are analyzed within a mean-field based model involving isovector and isoscalar pairing interactions and the iso-cranking formalism applied to restore approximately isospin symmetry. It is shown that T=0 states in o-o and T=1 states in e-e nuclei correspond to two-quasiparticle, time-reversal symmetry breaking excitations since their angular momenta are different than zero. On the other hand the lowest T=2 states in e-e and T=1 states in o-o nuclei, which both are similar in structure to their even-even isobari…
The role of neutron-proton pairing correlations on the structure of nuclei along the $N=Z$ line is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on the competition between isovector ($T=1$) and isoscalar $(T=0$) pair fields. The expected properties of these systems, in terms of pairing collective motion, are assessed by different theoretical frameworks including schematic models, realistic Shell Model and mean field approaches. The results are contrasted with experimental data with the goal of establishing clear signals for the existence of neutron-proton ($np$) condensates. We will show that there …
Background: The presence of nuclear ground states with stable reflection-asymmetric shapes is supported by rich experimental evidence. Theoretical surveys of odd-multipolarity deformations predict the existence of pear-shaped isotopes in several fairly localized regions of the nuclear landscape in the vicinity of near-lying single-particle shells with $Δ\ell=Δj=3$. Purpose: We analyze the role of isoscalar, isovector, neutron-proton, neutron-neutron, and proton-proton multipole interaction energies in inducing the onset of reflection-asymmetric ground-state deformations. Methods: The calculati…
