Parameter-free deformation variables of the proxy-SU(3) symmetry in even-even actinide, superheavy and hyperheavy nuclei with Z=82-126, N=82-258
National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”（德谟克利特国家科学研究中心）；Physical Research Laboratory（物理研究实验室）；Aristotle University of Thessaloniki（塞萨洛尼基亚里士多德大学）；Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering（霍里亚·胡卢贝伊核物理与核工程研发国家研究所）；National and Kapodistrian University of Athens（雅典国立卡波季斯特里安大学）；Bulgarian Academy of Sciences（保加利亚科学院）
Dennis Bonatsos, V. K. B. Kota, Andriana Martinou, S. K. Peroulis, D. Petrellis, P. Vasileiou, T. J. Mertzimekis, N. Minkov
Superheavy and hyperheavy nuclei are one of the frontiers of nuclear structure nowadays, while also for many actinides rather limited experimental information exists. Therefore, theoretical methods providing parameter-independent predictions for these nuclei are of particular interest. Such a method is the proxy-SU(3) approximation to the shell model, which has been adequately tested against experimental data in medium-mass and heavy nuclei up to the rare earth region, and has been found to provide reliable, parameter-independent predictions for the collective deformation variables beta and gamma. Within the proxy-SU(3) approach, the SU(3) symmetry of the 3-dimensional harmonic oscillator, which is destroyed beyond the sd shell by the strong spin-orbit interaction, is restored through a unitary transformation. For each nucleus, the most symmetric irreducible representation (irrep) allowed by the Pauli principle and the short-range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, called the highest-weight (hw ) irrep in mathematical language, is found to suffice, except in cases in which the hw irrep turns out to be completely symmetric, so that the next highest weight (nhw) irrep has also to be included. In this article we provide a full collection of the hw and nhw irreps, as well as of the corresponding parameter-free predictions for the deformation variables beta and gamma, for all atomic nuclei ranging from Z=82, N=82 to Z=126, N=258. Several cases exemplifying the use of the collected results for studying the prolate to oblate shape transition, mirror symmetries, as well as the evolution of the collective variables along the valley of stability are also considered.
Quantum stabilization of superheavy elements is quantified in terms of the shell-correction energy. We compute the shell correction using self-consistent nuclear models: the non-relativistic Skyrme-Hartree-Fock approach and the relativistic mean-field model, for a number of parametrizations. All the forces applied predict a broad valley of shell stabilization around Z=120 and N=172-184. We also predict two broad regions of shell stabilization in hyperheavy elements with N approx 258 and N approx 308. Due to the large single-particle level density, shell corrections in the superheavy elements d…
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.
The properties of hyperheavy nuclei and the extension of nuclear landscape to hyperheavy nuclei are extensively studied within covariant density functional theory. Axial reflection symmetric and reflection asymmetric relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) calculations are carried out. The role of triaxiality is studied within triaxial RHB and triaxial relativistic mean field + BCS frameworks. With increasing proton number beyond Z~130 the transition from ellipsoidal-like nuclear shapes to toroidal ones takes place. The description of latter shapes requires the basis which is typically significa…
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…
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 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 …
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…
Within the framework of a dinuclear system (DNS) model, the evaporation-residue excitation functions and the quasi-fission mass yields in the $^{48}$Ca induced fusion reactions are investigated systematically and compared with available experimental data. Maximal production cross sections of superheavy nuclei based on stable actinide targets are obtained. Isotopic trends in the production of the superheavy elements Z=110, 112-118 based on the actinide isotopic targets are analyzed systematically. Optimal evaporation channels and combinations as well as the corresponding excitation energies are…
We found that a true ternary fission with formation of a heavy third fragment (a new type of radioactivity) is quite possible for superheavy nuclei due to the strong shell effects leading to a three-body clusterization with the two doubly magic tin-like cores. The simplest way to discover this phenomenon in the decay of excited superheavy nuclei is a detection of two tin-like clusters with appropriate kinematics in low-energy collisions of medium mass nuclei with actinide targets. The three-body quasi-fission process could be even more pronounced for giant nuclear systems formed in collisions …
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 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 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 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 …
We investigate the systematics of fission barriers in superheavy elements in the range Z = 108-120 and N = 166-182. Results from two self-consistent models for nuclear structure, the relativistic mean-field (RMF) model as well as the non-relativistic Skyrme-Hartree-Fock approach are compared and discussed. We restrict ourselves to axially symmetric shapes, which provides an upper bound on static fission barriers. We benchmark the predictive power of the models examining the barriers and fission isomers of selected heavy actinide nuclei for which data are available. For both actinides and super…
Theoretical uncertainties in the predictions of inner fission barrier heights in superheavy elements have been investigated in a systematic way for a set of state-of-the-art covariant energy density functionals which represent major classes of the functionals used in covariant density functional theory. They differ in basic model assumptions and fitting protocols. Both systematic and statistical uncertainties have been quantified where the former turn out to be larger. Systematic uncertainties are substantial in superheavy elements and their behavior as a function of proton and neutron numbers…
Within the framework of the dinuclear system (DNS) model, production cross sections of new superheavy nuclei with charged numbers Z=108-114 are analyzed systematically. Possible combinations based on the actinide nuclides $^{238}$U, $^{244}$Pu and $^{248,250}$Cm with the optimal excitation energies and evaporation channels are pointed out to synthesize new isotopes which lie between the nuclides produced in the cold fusion and the $^{48}$Ca induced fusion reactions experimentally, which are feasible to be constructed experimentally. It is found that the production cross sections of superheavy …
Relativistic energy density functionals (REDF) provide a complete and accurate, global description of nuclear structure phenomena. A modern semi-empirical functional, adjusted to the nuclear matter equation of state and to empirical masses of deformed nuclei, is applied to studies of shapes of superheavy nuclei. The theoretical framework is tested in a comparison of calculated masses, quadrupole deformations, and potential energy barriers to available data on actinide isotopes. Self-consistent mean-field calculations predict a variety of spherical, axial and triaxial shapes of long-lived super…
We present a review of the recent progress of theoretical models on the description of the formation of superheavy nuclei in collisions of heavy systems. Two sorts of reactions that are the fusion-evaporation mechanism and the massive damped collisions to produce superheavy nuclei are discussed. Problems and further improvements of the capture of colliding partners, the formation of compound nucleus and the de-excitation process are pointed out. Possible combinations in the synthesis of the gap of the cold fusion and $^{48}$Ca induced reactions are proposed by the calculations based on the din…
The fusion dynamics on the formation of superheavy nuclei is investigated thoroughly within the dinuclear system model. The Monte Carlo approach is implemented into the nucleon transfer process for including all possible orientations, at which the dinuclear system is assumed to be formed at the touching configuration of dinuclear fragments. The production cross sections of superheavy nuclei Cn, Fl, Lv, Ts and Og are calculated and compared with the available data from Dubna. The evaporation residue excitation functions in the channels of pure neutrons and charged particles are analyzed systema…
Superheavy isotopes are highly neutron rich nuclei in the vicinity of neutron drip-line, stabilized by shell effect against the instability due to repulsive component of nuclear force, analogous to superheavy elements similarly stabilized against Coulomb instability. Here we discuss the stability and fission decay properties of such nuclei in the $^{254}$Th region and show that they are stable against $α$ and fission decay and have $β$-decay life time of several tens of seconds. In particular, the $^{254}$Th nucleus has a low fission barrier and unusally large barrier width. This makes it an i…
Examination of promising reactions with $^{241}$Am and $^{244}$Cm targets for the synthesis of new superheavy elements within the dinuclear system model with a dynamical potential energy surface
The current status of the application of covariant density functional theory to the description of actinides and superheavy nuclei is reviewed. The achievements and open problems are discussed.
Existing experimental facilities limit the possibilities for discovery of new nuclides to those synthesized with cross sections above 100 fb, but the perspectives for future high current accelerators could lower this limit by two orders of magnitude. Therefore, in the present work excitation functions for fusion-$xn$ evaporation reaction channels induced not only by $^{48}Ca$ but also by heavier projectiles (usually leading to smaller cross sections) on actinide targets were calculated in the framework of the fusion-by-diffusion (FBD) model. For the first time, in this approach, channels in wh…
Beyond uranium heavy elements rapidly become increasingly unstable with respect to spontaneous fission as the proton number Z increases, because of the disruptive effect of the long-range Coulomb force. However, in the region just beyond Z = 100 magic proton and neutron numbers and the associated shell structure enhances nuclear stability sufficiently to allow observation of additional nuclei. Some thirty years ago it was speculated that an island of spherical, relatively stable superheavy nuclei would exist near the next doubly magic proton-neutron combination beyond 208:Pb, that is, at proto…
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…
Using the microscopic-macroscopic model based on the deformed Woods-Saxon single-particle potential and the Yukawa-plus-exponential macroscopic energy we calculated static fission barriers $B_{f}$ for 1305 heavy and superheavy nuclei $98\leq Z \leq 126$, including even - even, odd - even, even - odd and odd - odd systems. For odd and odd-odd nuclei, adiabatic potential energy surfaces were calculated by a minimization over configurations with one blocked neutron or/and proton on a level from the 10-th below to the 10-th above the Fermi level. The parameters of the model that have been fixed pr…
The concept of fission barrier - a parameter which enters in quantitative estimates of various observables related to nuclear fission - is presented from the point of view of theory based on the picture of nuclear deformation and energy dependent on it. We describe the macroscopic-microscopic method of calculating energy landscapes which is simpler than the selfconsistent mean field approach, and, due to its two-component nature, seems to be easier to adjust to experimental data. We present some models and methods used to find the fission saddles. For the purpose of illustration, we present re…
Using a new approximate analytic parameter-free proxy-SU(3) scheme, we make predictions of shape observables for actinides and superheavy elements, namely beta and gamma deformation variables, and compare these with predictions by relativistic and non-relativistic mean-field theories. Furthermore, we make predictions for B(E2) transition rates of deformed nuclei and compare these with existing data and predictions of other theoretical approaches.
