Multi-dimensional constraint relativistic mean field model and applications in actinide and transfermium nuclei
Bing-Nan Lu, Jie Zhao, En-Guang Zhao, Shan-Gui Zhou
备注:
5 pages, 5 figures; to be published in Proceedings of the 20th Nuclear Physics Workshop "Marie & Pierre Curie", Kazimierz, Poland, Sep. 25-29, 2013; references updated
In this contribution we present some results of potential energy surfaces of actinide and transfermium nuclei from multi-dimensional constrained relativistic mean field (MDC-RMF) models. Recently we developed multi-dimensional constrained covariant density functional theories (MDC-CDFT) in which all shape degrees of freedom $β_{λμ}$ with even $μ$ are allowed and the functional can be one of the following four forms: the meson exchange or point-coupling nucleon interactions combined with the non-linear or density-dependent couplings. In MDC-RMF models, the pairing correlations are treated with the BCS method. With MDC-RMF models, the potential energy surfaces of even-even actinide nuclei were investigated and the effect of triaxiality on the fission barriers in these nuclei was discussed. The non-axial reflection-asymmetric $β_{32}$ shape in some transfermium nuclei with $N=150$, namely $^{246}$Cm, $^{248}$Cf, $^{250}$Fm, and $^{252}$No were also studied.
Multi-dimensional constrained covariant density functional theories were developed recently. In these theories, all shape degrees of freedom β_{λμ} deformations with even μare allowed, e.g., β_{20}, β_{22}, β_{30}, β_{32}, β_{40}, β_{42}, β_{44}, and so on and the CDFT functional can be one of the following four forms: the meson exchange or point-coupling nucleon interactions combined with the non-linear or density-dependent couplings. In this contribution, some applications of these theories are presented. The potential energy surfaces of actinide nuclei in the (β_{20}, β_{22}, β_{30}) deform…
Based on time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory, a new inverse quasifission mechanism is proposed to produce neutron-rich transfermium nuclei, in collision of prolate deformed actinides. Calculations show that collision of the tip of one nucleus with the side of the other results in a nucleon flux toward the latter. The role of nucleon evaporation and impact parameter, as well as the collision time are discussed.
We have developed multi-dimensional constrained covariant density functional theories (MDC-CDFT) for finite nuclei in which the shape degrees of freedom β_{λμ} with even μ, e.g., β_{20}, β_{22}, β_{30}, β_{32}, β_{40}, etc., can be described simultaneously. The functional can be one of the following four forms: the meson exchange or point-coupling nucleon interactions combined with the non-linear or density-dependent couplings. For the pp channel, either the BCS approach or the Bogoliubov transformation is implemented. The MDC-CDFTs with the BCS approach for the pairing (in the following label…
The study of rotation-alignment of quasiparticles probes sensitively the properties of high-j intruder orbits. The distribution of very high-j orbits, which are consequences of the fundamental spin-orbit interaction, links with the important question of single-particle levels in superheavy nuclei. With the deformed single-particle states generated by the standard Nilsson potential, we perform Projected-Shell-Model calculations for transfermium nuclei where detailed spectroscopy experiment is currently possible. Specifically, we study the systematical behavior of rotation-alignment and associat…
Self-consistent mean field calculations with the SLy4 interaction and a density-dependent pairing force are presented for nuclei in the Nobelium mass region. Predicted quasi-particle spectra are compared with experiment for the heaviest known odd N and odd Z nuclei. Spectra and rotational bands are presented for nuclei around No252,4 for which experiments are either planned or already running.
Collisions of actinide nuclei form, during very short times of few zs ($10^{-21}$ s), the heaviest ensembles of interacting nucleons available on Earth. Such collisions are used to produce super-strong electric fields by the huge number of interacting protons to test spontaneous positron-electron pair emission (vacuum decay) predicted by the quantum electrodynamics (QED) theory. Multi-nucleon transfer in actinide collisions could also be used as an alternative way to fusion in order to produce neutron-rich heavy and superheavy elements thanks to inverse quasifission mechanisms. Actinide collis…
The structure of nuclei with $Z\sim100$ is investigated systematically by the Cranked Shell Model (CSM) with pairing correlations treated by a Particle-Number Conserving (PNC) method. In the PNC method, the particle number is conserved and the Pauli blocking effects are taken into account exactly. By fitting the experimental single-particle spectra in these nuclei, a new set of Nilsson parameters ($κ$ and $μ$) is proposed. The experimental kinematic moments of inertia and the band-head energies are reproduced quite well by the PNC-CSM calculations. The band crossing, the effects of high-$j$ in…
Transfermium nuclei (101$\leq$Z$\leq$110) are investigated thoroughly to describe structural properties viz. deformation, radii, shapes, magicity, etc. as well as their probable decay chains. These properties are explored using relativistic mean-field (RMF) approach and compared with other theories along with available experimental data. Neutron numbers N$=$152 and 162 have come forth with a deformed shell gap whereas N$=$184 is ensured as a spherical magic number. The region with N$>$168 bears witness of the phenomenon of shape transition and shape coexistence for all the considered isotopic …
In the unknown territory of transfermium nuclei, the relativistic mean-field (RMF) theory has been applied to probe decay modes which include $α$-decay, spontaneous fission (SF), and a less explored weak-decay. These decay modes are analyzed on equal footing for 101$\leq$Z$\leq$109 and as a consequence, the half-lives for weak-decay are indeed found comparable for several isotopes. Our prediction of decay modes and half-lives are found in excellent agreement with available experimental decay modes and half-lives along with the results of some other theories. Out of $α$, $β^+$/EC, $β^-$, and SF…
We have studied strength in the BCS pairing force, used as a residual interaction to the relativistic mean-field to reproduce the height of the inner fission barriers for actinide nuclei. It was found that increasing the pairing strength by about 13% makes reproduce the inner fission barriers better over a wide range of actinide nuclei. This result was verified by using the moment-of-inertia of pairing rotational energy, which was introduced to avoid mean-field and odd-mass effects in the pairing interaction to deduce purely the pairing strength. The pairing interaction thus determined could s…
A new, rapidly convergent Fourier over spheroid parametrization is developed to describe the shape of a fissioning nucleus: its elongation, non-axiality and left-right asymmetry and neck formation. The 4D Potential Energy Surfaces (PES) of even-even actinide nuclei are evaluated within the macro-micro model. The Langevin trajectories generated on such PESs allow for obtaining the fission fragments' mass and kinetic energy yields. The charge equilibration at the scission configuration and the post-scission neutron emission are also discussed.
We employ density-dependent relativistic mean-field theory to study how the triaxiality and pairing interaction affect the inner fission barriers of actinide nuclei. It was found that triaxiality reduced the inner fission barriers and improved agreement with experimental values for many actinides. However, about 1-2 MeV discrepancy to the experimental values still remained for some of the considered nuclei. Such a discrepancy could be made further smaller by increasing the BCS pairing strength parameter. In this work, we demonstrated that adjusting the paring strength was effective to reproduc…
An analysis of the $^{231}$Pa$(d,3n)$$^{230}$U reaction excitation function at energies around the Coulomb barrier has taken into account the pre-equilibrium and compound-nucleus cross sections corrected for the deuteron-breakup decrease of the total reaction cross section, as well as the inelastic breakup enhancement. The analysis reveals the dominance of the deuteron breakup mechanism unlike a former assessment in this respect of the deuteron-induced fission process.
For the first time the potential energy surfaces of actinide nuclei in the $(β_{20}, β_{22}, β_{30})$ deformation space are obtained from a multi-dimensional constrained covariant density functional theory. With this newly developed theory we are able to explore the importance of the triaxial and octupole shapes simultaneously along the whole fission path. It is found that besides the octupole deformation, the triaxiality also plays an important role upon the second fission barriers. The outer barrier as well as the inner barrier are lowered by the triaxial deformation compared with axially sy…
Fission-fragment mass distributions were measured for 225,227Pa nuclei formed in fusion reactions of 19F + 206, 208Pb around fusion barrier energies. Mass-angle correlations do not indicate any quasi-fission like events in this bombarding energy range. Mass distributions were fitted by Gaussian distribution and mass variance extracted. At below-barrier energies, the mass variance was found to increase with decrease in energy for both nuclei. Results from present work were compared with existing data for induced fission of 224, 226Th and 228U around barrier energies. Enhancement in mass varianc…
The current status of the application of covariant density functional theory to the description of fission barriers in actinides and superheavy nuclei is reviewed. The achievements and open problems are discussed.
A modified version of the previously proposed exponential model with pairing attenuation for the well deformed even-even nuclei has been applied to predict the energy levels of doubly even actinide nuclei. Satisfactory results are obtained by that model as compared with the experimental results. The backbending phenomena are successfully described and discussed. A further comparison with the main previous models has been undertaken to confirm its validity in the heavy nuclei region.
Octupole deformed shapes in neutron-rich actinides and superheavy nuclei as well as extremely deformed shapes of the N~Z light nuclei have been investigated within the framework of covariant density functional theory. We confirmed the presence of new region of octupole deformation in neutron-rich actinides with the center around Z~96, N~196 but our calculations do not predict octupole deformation in the ground states of superheavy Z~108 nuclei. As exemplified by the study of 36Ar, the nodal structure of the wavefunction of occupied single-particle orbitals in extremely deformed structures allo…
From Bohr-Mottelson model, a three parametric simple expression for the ground state rotational band of deformed even-even nuclei is deduced by incorporating the variable moment of inertia and the softness parameter. Our obtained results show good agreement with data in comparison with other existing models.
A systematic analysis of low-lying quadrupole and octupole collective states is presented, based on the microscopic energy density functional framework. By mapping the deformation constrained self-consistent axially symmetric mean-field energy surfaces onto the equivalent Hamiltonian of the $sdf$ interacting boson model (IBM), that is, onto the energy expectation value in the boson condensate state, the Hamiltonian parameters are determined. The study is based on the global relativistic energy density functional DD-PC1. The resulting IBM Hamiltonian is used to calculate excitation spectra and …
Based on the relativistic calculations of the nuclear masses in the transfermium region from No $(Z=102)$ to Ds $(Z=110)$ by the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum, the possible existence of the bound nuclei beyond the neutron drip lines is studied. The two-neutron and multi-neutron emission bound nuclei beyond the primary neutron drip line of $N=258$ are predicted in $Z=106,108$ and $110$ isotopes. Detailed microscopic mechanism investigation reveals that nuclear deformation plays a vital role in the existence of the bound nuclei beyond the drip line. Furthermore, no…
Photonuclear reaction is described with an approach based on the quasideuteron nuclear photoabsorption model followed by the process of competition between light particle evaporation and fission for the excited nucleus. Thus fission process is considered as a decay mode. The evaporation-fission process of the compound nucleus is simulated in a Monte-Carlo framework. Photofission reaction cross sections are analysed in a systematic manner in the energy range $\sim$~50-70 MeV for the actinides $^{232}$Th, $^{233}$U, $^{235}$U, $^{238}$U and $^{237}$Np and the pre-actinide nuclei $^{208}$Pb and $…
We use the 1/$N$ expansion formalism in a systematic study of high-spin states in the $sd$ and $sdg$ boson models with emphasis on spin dependence of moment of inertia and E2 transitions. The results are applied to the high-spin states in the actinide nuclei $^{232}$Th, $^{234-238}$U, where the need for $g$ bosons is especially acute but until now, no realistic calculation existed. We find that the $d$-boson energy plays a crucial role in description of the high-spin data.
Statistical analysis of distributions of the collective states in the actinide and rare-earth nuclei is performed in terms of the nearest neighbor spacing distribution (NNSD). Several approximations, such as the linear approach to the level repulsion density and that suggested by Brody to the NNSDs were applied for the analysis. We found an intermediate character of the experimental spectra between the order and the chaos for a number of the rare-earth and actinide nuclei. They are more close to the Wigner distribution for energies limited by 3 MeV, and to the Poisson distribution for data inc…
The double-humped structure of many actinide fission barriers is well established both experimentally and theoretically. There is also evidence, both experimental and theoretical, that some actinide nuclei have barriers with a third minimum, outside the second, fission-isomeric minimum. We perform a large-scale, systematic calculation of actinide fission barriers to identify which actinide nuclei exhibit third minima. We find that only a relatively few nuclei accessible to experiment exhibit third minima in their barriers, approximately nuclei with proton number $Z$ in the range $88 \leq Z \le…
$α-$decay through a deformed potential barrier produces significant mixing of angular momenta when mapped from the nuclear interior to the outside. Using experimental branching ratios and either semi-classical or coupled-channels transmission matrices, we have found that there is a set of internal amplitudes which are essentially constant for all even--even actinide nuclei. These same amplitudes also give good results for the known anisotropic $α-$particle emission of the favored decays of odd nuclei in the same mass region. PACS numbers: 23.60.+e, 24.10.Eq, 27.90.+b
An angular momentum dependence of the parity splitting in the alternating parity bands of nuclei with strong octupole correlations is considered basing on the model of the octupole motion in a one-dimensional potential well conserving axial symmetry. A sign reversal of the parity splitting at higher values of the angular momentum is interpreted as a result of the Coriolis coupling to K=1 octupole mode. New experimental data on the spectra of the alternating parity octupole bands are used.
Fission of atomic nuclei often produces mass asymmetric fragments. However, the origin of this asymmetry was believed to be different in actinides and in the sub-lead region [A. Andreyev {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 105}, 252502 (2010)]. It has recently been argued that quantum shell effects stabilising pear shapes of the fission fragments could explain the observed asymmetries in fission of actinides[G. Scamps and C. Simenel, Nature {\bf 564}, 382 (2018)]. This interpretation is tested in the sub-lead region using microscopic mean-field calculations of fission based on the Hartree-Fock…
Impacts of hexadecapole correlations in actinide nuclei
Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health(医学研究与职业健康研究所);Hokkaido University(北海道大学);Nazarbayev University(纳扎尔巴耶夫大学);Universidad Autónoma de Madrid(马德里自治大学);Universidad Politécnica de Madrid(马德里理工大学)
The interplay between quadrupole and octupole degrees of freedom is discussed in a series of neutron-rich actinides and superheavy nuclei with $92 \le$ Z $\le 110$ and $186 \le$ N $\le 202$. In addition to the static Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach, dynamical beyond-mean-field correlations are taken into account via both parity restoration and symmetry-conserving Generator Coordinate Method calculations based on the Gogny-D1M energy density functional. Physical properties such as correlation energies, negative-parity excitation energies as well as reduced transition probabilities $B(E1)$ and …
``Beat'' patterns are shown to appear in the octupole bands of several actinides and rare earths, their appearance being independent from the formula used in order to isolate and demonstrate them. It is shown that the recent formalism, making use of discrete approximations to derivatives of the transition energies (or of the energy levels) gives results consistent with the traditional formulae. In both regions it is seen that the first vanishing of the staggering occurs at higher values of the angular momentum I in nuclei exhibiting higher staggering at low I. Since these nuclei happen to be g…
Deviation from the I(I+1) rule in the even-even isotopes 62Sm, 64Gd, 66Dy, 68Er, 70Y b, 72Hf, 74W and 76Os nuclei have been studied with a new approach based on the idea that the rotational nucleus being stretched out along the symmetry axis, where such stretching is treated according to quantum mechanics. This approach led to a new formula that describes the dependence of the moment of inertia on the angular momentum, and such formula works well for all even-even nuclei in the actinide and rare-earth region in the range 2.9<R<3.3. The calculations were carried out with the stretched model whe…
In this work we examine the possibility to describe yrast positive- and negative-parity excitations of deformed even-even nuclei through a collective rotation model in which the nuclear surface is characterized by triaxial quadrupole and octupole deformations. The nuclear moments of inertia are expressed as sums of quadrupole and octupole parts. By assuming an adiabatic separation of rotation and vibration degrees of freedom we suppose that the structure of the positive- and negative- parity bands may be determined by the triaxial-rigid-rotor motion of the nucleus. By diagonalizing the Hamilto…
Photofission of actinides is studied in the region of nuclear excitation energies that covers the entire giant dipole resonance (GDR) region. A comparative analysis of the behavior of the symmetric and asymmetric modes of photon induced fission as a function of the average excitation energy of the fissioning nucleus is performed. The mass distributions of $^{238}$U photofission fragments are obtained at the endpoint bremsstrahlung energy of 29.1 MeV which corresponds to mean photon energy of 13.7$\pm$0.3 MeV that coincides with GDR peak for $^{238}$U photofission. The integrated yield of $^{23…
A systematic search for axial octupole deformation in the actinides and superheavy nuclei with proton numbers $Z=88-126$ and neutron numbers from two-proton drip line up to $N=210$ has been performed in covariant density functional theory (DFT) using four state-of-the-art covariant energy density functionals representing different model classes. The nuclei in the $Z\sim 96, N\sim 196$ region of octupole deformation have been investigated in detail and the systematic uncertainties in the description of their observables have been quantified. Similar region of octupole deformation exists also in…
The impact of pairing correlations on the fission barriers is investigated in Relativistic Hartree Bogoliubov (RHB) theory and Relativistic Mean Field (RMF)+BCS calculations. It is concluded that the constant gap approximation in the usual RMF+BCS calculations does not provide an adequate description of the barriers. The RHB calculations show that there is a substantial difference in the predicted barrier heights between zero-range and finite range pairing forces even in the case when the pairing strengths of these two forces are adjusted to the same value of the pairing gap at the ground stat…
The Heavy Shell Model (HSM) (Y. Sun and C.-L. Wu, Phys. Rev. C 68, 024315 (2003)) was proposed to take the advantages of two existing models, the projected shell model (PSM) and the Fermion Dynamical Symmetry Model (FDSM). To construct HSM, one extends the PSM by adding collective D-pairs into the intrinsic basis. The HSM is expected to describe simultaneously low-lying collective and quasi-particle excitations in deformed nuclei, and still keeps the model space tractable even for the heaviest systems. As the first numerical realization of the HSM, we study systematically the band structures f…
Prediction of Alpha-Decay Half-Lives of Actinide Nuclei Using the DDM3Y Effective Interaction Potential
Govt. First Grade College, Chikkaballapur(奇克巴拉布尔政府第一等级学院);Govt. First Grade College, Devanahalli(德瓦纳哈利政府第一等级学院);Government First Grade College, Nanjangud(南詹古德政府第一等级学院);R V College of Engineering, Bengaluru(班加罗尔R V工程学院)
Fission barriers heights and excitation energies of superdeformed isomeric minima are calculated within the microscopic - macroscopic Woods - Saxon model for 75 actinide nuclei for which the experimental data are known. State - of - the - art methods were used: minimization over many deformation parameters for minima and the imaginary water flow on many - deformation energy grid for saddles, including nonaxial and reflection-asymmetric shapes. We obtain 0.82 - 0.94 MeV rms deviation between the calculated and experimental barriers and 0.53 MeV rms error in the excitation of superdeformed minim…
By breaking both the axial and the spatial reflection symmetries, we develop multidimensionally constrained relativistic mean field (MDC-RMF) models. The nuclear shape is assumed to be invariant under the reversion of $x$ and $y$ axes, i.e., the intrinsic symmetry group is $V_{4}$ and all shape degrees of freedom $β_{λμ}$ with even $μ$, such as $β_{20}$, $β_{22}$, $β_{30}$, $β_{32}$, $β_{40}$, $\dots$, are included self-consistently. The Dirac wave functions are expanded in an axially deformed harmonic oscillator basis. The RMF functional can be one of the following four forms: the meson excha…
In order to describe heavy-ion fusion reactions around the Coulomb barrier with an actinide target nucleus, we propose a model which combines the coupled-channels approach and a fluctuation-dissipation model for dynamical calculations. This model takes into account couplings to the collective states of the interacting nuclei in the penetration of the Coulomb barrier and the subsequent dynamical evolution of a nuclear shape from the contact configuration. In the fluctuation-dissipation model with a Langevin equation, the effect of nuclear orientation at the initial impact on the prolately defor…
Nuclear fission of heavy (actinide) nuclei results predominantly in asymmetric mass-splits. Without quantum shells, which can give extra binding energy to these mass-asymmetric shapes, the nuclei would fission symmetrically. The strongest shell effects are in spherical nuclei, so naturally the spherical "doubly-magic" ${^{132}}$Sn nucleus (${Z=50}$ protons), was expected to play a major role. However, a systematic study of fission has shown that the heavy fragments are distributed around ${Z=52}$ to 56, indicating that ${^{132}}$Sn is not the only driver. Reconciling the strong spherical shell…
Cluster radioactivity is the emission of a fragment heavier than $α$ particle and lighter than mass 50. The range of clusters observed in experiments goes from $^{14}$C to $^{32}$Si while the heavy mass residue is always a nucleus in the neighborhood of the doubly-magic $^{208}$Pb nucleus. Cluster radioactivity is described in this paper as a very asymmetric nuclear fission. A new fission valley leading to a decay with large fragment mass asymmetry matching the cluster radioactivity products is found. The mass octupole moment is found to be more convenient than the standard quadrupole moment a…
Background: Multi-nucleon transfer reactions have recently attracted attention as a possible path to the synthesis of new neutron-rich heavy nuclei. Purpose: We study transfer reactions involving massive nuclei with the intention of understanding if the semi-classical model GRAZING coupled to an evaporation and fission competition model can satisfactory reproduce experimental data on transfer reactions in which fission plays a role. Methods: We have taken the computer code GRAZING and have added fission competition to it (GRAZING-F) using our current understanding of $Γ_n/Γ_f$, fission barrier…
The cranked relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (CRHB) theory has been applied for a systematic study of pairing and rotational properties of actinides and light superheavy nuclei. Pairing correlations are taken into account by the Brink-Booker part of finite range Gogny D1S force. For the first time in the covariant density functional theory (CDFT) framework the pairing properties are studied via the quantities (such as three-point $Δ^{(3)}$ indicators) related to odd-even mass staggerings. The investigation of the moments of inertia at low spin and the $Δ^{(3)}$ indicators shows the need for an …
The systematic investigation of the ground state and fission properties of even-even actinides and superheavy nuclei with $Z=90-120$ from the two-proton up to two-neutron drip lines with proper assessment of systematic theoretical uncertainties has been performed for the first time in the framework of covariant density functional theory (CDFT). These results provide a necessary theoretical input for the r-process modeling in heavy nuclei and, in particular, for the study of fission recycling. Four state-of-the-art globally tested covariant energy density functionals (CEDFs), namely, DD-PC1, DD…
The prompt neutron averaged number and the dependence of prompt neutron yield on fragment mass ν(A) of photofission of actinide nuclei 235U and 238U in the giant dipole resonance energy range has been parameterized. This allows us to describe the observed changes of saw-tooth behavior of neutron yield from the light and heavy fragments using few energy and nucleon composition dependent free parameters and to predict ν(A) for other actinide isotopes.
We have calculated the fission probabilities for 237-Np, 233,235,238-U, 232-Th, and nat-Pb following the absorption of photons with energies from 68 MeV to 3.77 GeV using the RELDIS Monte-Carlo code. This code implements the cascade-evaporation-fission model of intermediate-energy photonuclear reactions. It includes multiparticle production in photoreactions on intranuclear nucleons, pre-equilibrium emission, and the statistical decay of excited residual nuclei via competition of evaporation, fission, and multifragmentation processes. The calculations show that in the GeV energy region the fis…
With the quantum diffusion approach the behavior of capture cross sections and mean-square angular momenta of captured systems are revealed in the reactions with deformed nuclei at subbarrier energies. The calculated results are in a good agreement with existing experimental data. With decreasing bombarding energy under the barrier the external turning point of the nucleusnucleus potential leaves the region of short-range nuclear interaction and action of friction. Because of this change of the regime of interaction, an unexpected enhancement of the capture cross section is expected at bombard…
The E1(T=1) isovector dipole giant resonance (GDR) in heavy and super-heavy deformed nuclei is analyzed over a sample of 18 rare-earth nuclei, 4 actinides and three chains of super-heavy elements (Z=102, 114 and 120). Basis of the description is self-consistent separable RPA (SRPA) using the Skyrme force SLy6. The self-consistent model well reproduces the experimental data (energies and widths) in the rare-earth and actinide region. The trend of the resonance peak energies follows the estimates from collective models, showing a bias to the volume mode for the rare-earths isotopes and a mix of …
Background: Fission barriers of actinide nuclei have been mostly and for long been microscopi- cally calculated for even-even fissioning systems. Calculations in the case of odd nuclei have been performed merely within a so-called equal-filling approximation (EFA) as opposed to an approach taking explicitly into account the time reversal breaking properties at the mean field level- and for only one single-particle configuration. Purpose: We study the dependence of the fission barriers on various relevant configurations (e.g. to evaluate the so-called specialization energy). Besides, we want to…