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At least 829 records · Page 46

The LLNL Program in Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics (NSNA) (FY19 Annual Report)

Our major efforts in FY18-19 were devoted to carrying out the second GRETINA/CHICO2 campaign at ANL and the JANUS campaign at MSU/NSCL. Among a total of 13 fielded experiments, three were for Ph.D. thesis projects; two students at MSU and one at UNC at Chapel Hill. Two experiments in the JANUS campaign were led by LLNL; namely, the study of nuclear structure in 72 Se and 76 Se using the sub-barrier Coulomb excitation method. The data analysis was completed for both selenium isotopes and the results were published. The 72 Se results have been submitted to DOE/SC/NP as a science highlight and the article won a prestigious LLNL S&T Excellence in Publication Award in FY19. For experiments fielded in FY17 at TRIUMF/ISAC2 using TIGRESS/Bambino, the data analysis was completed recently and the 21 Mg results were published in FY19. For the results on the mirror nuclei 23 Mg and 23 Na, the manuscript was written and is in circulation among the coauthors. We intend to submit it for publication later this calendar year. These efforts address the isospin symmetry in the sd shell nuclei in terms of the electromagnetic properties measured with the sub-barrier Coulomb excitation method. The proposal to upgrade CHICO2 to CHICOX by resizing the detector chamber to be compatible to GRETA was approved in FY17 with a budget spread over three fiscal years starting FY18. The preliminary design was completed but cannot be finalized until the design for the GRETA holding frame is completed by the LBNL GRETA team in FY19. The fabrication will proceed once the physical compatibility of CHICOX to GRETA holding frame is confirmed. The narrative below focuses on the research efforts for which LLNL led or played a key role. This report includes two sections: 1) Evolution of shell structure and collectivity in neutron-rich nuclei, and 2) Investigating nucleosynthesis and the Standard Model with β decay.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Study of correlation effects in nuclei at the limit of stability. Final report

Exotic nuclei far from the valley of stability are a particularly exciting testing ground to probe nucleon-nucleon correlations in a regime where the numbers of constituent protons and neutrons are out of balance and the influence of isospin-dependent terms within the nuclear force becomes amplified. The grant DE-FG02-08ER41556 has supported from 2008 to 2019 an MSU graduate student research assistantship at the heart of a research program that explored the evolution of nuclear structure in exotic nuclei with gamma-ray spectroscopy experiments in the N=40 region of neutron-rich nuclei at NSCL and at ATLAS at Argonne National Laboratory and that mounted a new low-energy Coulomb excitation program at NSCL’s ReA accelerator within the PI’s research program. This final scientific/technical report describes the results and outcomes resulting from the support by the Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Polarized fusion, its Implications and plans for Direct Measurements in a Tokamak

Our energy-hungry world is burning. A long-term solution, possibly the only ultimate one, that is just approaching the horizon after decades of struggle, is fusion. Recent developments allow us to apply techniques from spin physics to advance the viability of this critical option. The cross section for the primary fusion fuel in a tokamak reactor, D+T /to sigma + n, would be increased by a factor of 1.5 if the fuels were spin polarized parallel to the local field. Simulations predict further non-linear power gains in large-scale machines such as ITER, due to increased alpha heating. These are significant enhancements that could lower the requirements needed to reach ignition and could be used to extend useful reactor life by compensating for neutron degradation of critical components. The potential realization of such benefits rests on the survival of spin polarization for periods comparable to the energy containment time. Interest in polarized fuel options had an initial peak of activity in the 1980s, where calculations predicted that polarizations could in fact survive a plasma environment. However, concerns were raised regarding the cumulative impacts of fuel recycling from the reactor walls. In addition, the technical challenges of preparing and handling polarized materials prevented any direct tests. Over the last several decades, this situation has changed dramatically. Detailed simulations of the ITER plasma have projected negligible wall recycling in a high power reactor. In addition, a combination of advances in three areas - polarized material technologies developed for nuclear and particle physics as well as for medical imaging, polymer pellets developed for Inertial Con nement, and cryogenic injection guns developed for delivering fuel into the core of tokamaks - have matured to the point where a direct in situ measurement is possible. A Jefferson Lab - DIII-D/General Atomics - University of Virginia collaboration is developing designs for a proof-of-principle polarization survival experiment using the isospin mirror reaction, D +3 He /to sigma + p, at the DIII-D tokamak in San Diego.

Sandorfi, Andrew↗

Quark distributions in nucleons and nuclei

We discuss the medium modifications of quark distributions and structure functions in the framework of a chiral effective quark theory. Particular emphasis is put on the isospin dependence of the in-medium quark distributions. As an interesting application, we discuss a possible solution of the so called NuTeV anomaly. Possible extensions of the model to describe fragmentation functions are also discussed.

Bentz, Wolfgang↗

New Results on Bottom Baryons with the CDF II Detector

We present measurements of the masses and widths of four bottom baryon resonances, Sigma_b(*)+-, reconstructed in the Lambda_b pi+- hadron decay modes. The isospin mass splittings for the Sigma_b and Sigma_b* multiplets are extracted as well. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 6 fb^-1 .

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

An $a_0$ resonance in strongly coupled $\pi \eta$, $K \overline{K}$ scattering from lattice QCD

Scattering amplitudes for the coupled-channels pi-n, KKbar and pi-n' in isospin = 1 are extracted from the discrete spectrum of eigenstates in three volumes determined using lattice QCD with m_pi = 391 MeV. The S-wave is found to feature a prominent cusp-like structure in pi-n --> pi-n close to KKbar threshold, and an a0(980)-like resonance is identified, corresponding to a pole in the complex energy plane, coupled to both pi-n and KKbar.

Dudek, Jozef↗

Jet charge modification in dense QCD matter

In these proceedings we report a recent calculation of the jet charge modification in heavy-ion relative to proton collisions at the LHC. Jets have played an essential role in constraining theories of in-medium parton shower evolution and in determining the properties of the quark-gluon plasma created in ultra-relativistic nuclear reactions. It is important to extend these studies to flavor-tagged jets and explore observables that are sensitive to their partonic origin. The average jet charge, introduced early on in the history of quantum chromodynamics, is a proxy for the electric charge of the quark or gluon that initiates the jet. In the framework of soft-collinear effective theory, we show how to evaluate the jet charge in a dense strongly-interacting matter environments. We identify observables that can isolate the contribution of in-medium branching from isospin effects and present predictions for the transverse momentum dependence of the jet charge distribution in nucleus-nucleus collisions and its modification relative to the proton case.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The Unitarity-Limit Expansion for Two Nucleons with Perturbative Pions: Digest and Ideas

Theorists love nontrivial fixed points. In the Unitarity Limit, the NN 𝑆-wave binding energies are zero, the scattering lengths infinite, Physics is universal, i.e. insensitive to details of the interactions, and observables display richer symmetries, namely invariance under both scaling and Wigner’s combined SU(4) transformation of spin and isospin. In “Pionless” EFT, both are explicitly but weakly broken and hence perturbative in the Unitarity Window (phase shifts 45° ≲ δ(k) ≲ 135°, i.e. momenta k≈mπ). This Unitarity Expansion provides strong hints that Nuclear Physics resides indeed in a sweet spot: bound weakly enough to be insensitive to the details of the nuclear interaction; and therefore interacting strongly enough that the NN scattering lengths are perturbatively close to the Unitarity Limit. In this paradigm change, NN details are less important than NNN interactions to explain the complexity and patterns of the nuclear chart. This presentation is a digest of the first quantitative exploration of corrections to this picture when pions are included [1] (see there for a more comprehensive list of references). Since the pion mass and decay constant introduce dimensionful scales in the NN system, they explicitly break the symmetries of the Unitarity fixed point. In χEFT, these symmetries must therefore be hidden and instead be classified as emergent.

Griesshammer, Harald W. [The George Washington Uni↗

Particle configurations in the $NN\bar K$ system

Three-body AAB model for the $NN\bar K$(s NN = 0) kaonic cluster is considered based on the configuration space Faddeev equations. Within a single channel approach, the difference between masses of nucleons and kaons and the charge independence breaking of nucleon-nucleon interaction are taken into consideration. We definite the particle configurations in the system according to the particle masses and pair potentials. There are two sets of the particle configurations, ppK¯, npK¯ 0 and nnK¯ 0 , npK¯, charged and neutral. The three-body calculations are performed by applying NN and NK¯ phenomenological isospin-dependent potentials. The mass and energy spectra related to the particle configurations are presented. We evaluate the mass and energy uncertainties for the NNK¯ model. As a result, an analogy to NNN model for the 3 H and 3 He nuclei is proposed.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

New insights into the pole parameters of the Λ(1380), the Λ(1405) and the Σ(1385)

A coupled-channel S- and P-wave next-to-leading order chiral-unitary approach for strangeness S = –1 meson-baryon scattering is extended to include the new data from the KLOE and AMADEUS experiments as well as the Λπ mass distribution of the Σ(1385). The positions of the poles on the second Riemann sheet corresponding to the Σ(1385) pole and the Λ(1380) and Λ(1405) poles as well as the couplings of these states to various channels are calculated. We find that the resonance positions and branching ratios are on average determined with about 20% higher precision when including the KLOE and AMADEUS data. Additionally, for the first time, the correlations between the parameters of the poles are investigated and shown to be relevant. We also find that the Σ(1385) has negligible influence on the properties of the Λ states given the available data. Still, we identify isospin-1 cusp structures in the present solution in light of new measurements of π ± Λ line-shapes by the Belle collaboration.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Direct reactions with the AT-TPC

Direct reactions are crucial tools for accessing properties of the atomic nucleus. Fundamental and exotic phenomena such as collective modes, pairing, weakbinding effects and evolution of single-particles energies can be investigated in peripheral collisions between a heavy nucleus and a light target. The necessity of using inverse kinematics to reveal how these structural properties change with isospin imbalance renders direct reactions a challenging technique when using the missing mass method. In this scenario, Active Target Time Projection Chambers (AT-TPC) have demonstrated an outstanding performance in enabling these types of reactions even under conditions of very low beam intensities. The AT-TPC of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) is a next generation multipurpose Active Target. When operated inside a solenoidal magnet, direct reactions benefit from the measurement of the magnetic rigidity that enables particle identification and the determination of the excitation energy with high resolution without the need of auxiliary detectors. Additionally, the AT-TPC can be coupled to a magnetic spectrometer improving even further its spectroscopic investigation capability. In this contribution, we discuss inelastic scattering and transfer reaction data obtained via the AT-TPC and compare them to theory. In particular, we present the results for the 14 C(p,p′) and 12 Be (p,d) 11 Be reactions. For 14 C, we compare the experimental excitation energy of the first 1 – excited state with coupled-cluster calculationsbased on nuclear interactions from chiral effective field theory and with available shell-model predictions. For 12 Be, we determine the theoretical spectroscopic factors of the 12 Be (p,d) 11 Be transfer reaction in the shell modeland compare them to the experimental excitation spectrum from a qualitative standpoint.

active target↗

Search for Weak Side Branches in the Electromagnetic Decay Paths of the 6526-keV 10 + Isomer in 54 Fe

High-spin nuclear isomers in $N≈Z$ nuclei between doubly magic 40 Ca and 56 Ni provide an excellent testing ground for the nuclear shell model and questions related to isospin symmetry breaking in the vicinity of the proton drip line. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the possibility of weak electromagnetic decay branches along the decay paths of the 6526-keV 10 + isomer in 54 Fe. The isomer was strongly populated by means of the fusion-evaporation reaction 24 Mg( 36 Ar,$α$2$p$) 54$m$ Fe. The Gammasphere array was used to detect $γ$-ray cascades emitted from the isomeric state. By means of $γγγ$ coincidences, weak non-yrast decay branches can be discriminated, with the isomer’s half-life confirmed at $T$ 1/2 = 363 (4) ns. The yrast ${6}_{1}^{+}$ → ${2}_{1}^{+}$ $E4$ cross-over transition was interrogated. The observations are compared with shell-model calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Imprints of High-Density Nuclear Symmetry Energy on Crustal Fraction of Neutron Star Moment of Inertia

The density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy E sym (ρ) remains the most uncertain aspect of the equation of state (EOS) of supradense neutron-rich nucleonic matter. Utilizing an isospin-dependent parameterization of the nuclear EOS, we investigate the implications of the observational crustal fraction of the neutron star (NS) moment of inertia ΔI/I for the E sym (ρ). We find that symmetry energy parameters significantly influence the ΔI/I, while the EOS of symmetric nuclear matter has a negligible effect. In particular, an increase in the slope L and skewness J sym of symmetry energy results in a larger ΔI/I, whereas an increase in the curvature K sym leads to a reduction in ΔI/I. Moreover, the ΔI/I is shown to have the potential for setting a lower limit of symmetry energy at densities exceeding 3 ρ 0 , particularly when L is constrained to values less than 60 MeV, thereby enhancing our understanding of supradense NS matter.

equation of state↗

The Symmetry Energy: Current Status of Ab Initio Predictions vs. Empirical Constraints

Infinite nuclear matter is a suitable laboratory to learn about nuclear forces in many-body systems. In particular, modern theoretical predictions of neutron-rich matter are timely because of recent and planned experiments aimed at constraining the equation of state of isospin-asymmetric matter. For these reasons, we have taken a broad look at the equation of state of neutron-rich matter and the closely related symmetry energy, which is the focal point of this article. Its density dependence is of paramount importance for a number of nuclear and astrophysical systems, ranging from neutron skins to the structure of neutron stars. We review and discuss ab initio predictions in relation to recent empirical constraints. We emphasize and demonstrate that free-space nucleon–nucleon data pose stringent constraints on the density dependence of the neutron matter equation of state, which essentially determines the slope of the symmetry energy at saturation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Simultaneous Chiral Symmetry Restoration and Deconfinement Consequences for the QCD Phase Diagram

For studies of quark matter in astrophysical scenarios, the thermodynamic bag model is commonly employed. Although successful, it does not account for dynamical chiral symmetry breaking and repulsions due to the vector interaction which is crucial to explain recent observations of massive, two solar mass neutron stars. In Klähn and Fischer we developed the novel vBag quark matter model which takes these effects into account. This article extends vBag to finite temperatures and isospin asymmetry. Another particular feature of vBag is the determination of the deconfinement bag constant B{sub dc} from a given hadronic equation of state in order to ensure that chiral and deconfinement transitions coincide. We discuss consequences of this novel approach for the phase transition construction, the phase diagram, and implications for protoneutron stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Implications of the Mass $M={2.17}_{-0.10}^{+0.11}$ M ⊙ of PSR J0740+6620 on the Equation of State of Super-dense Neutron-rich Nuclear Matter

We study the implications of the very recently reported mass $M={2.17}_{-0.10}^{+0.11}$ M ⊙ of PSR J0740+6620 on the equation of state (EOS) of super-dense neutron-rich nuclear matter with respect to existing constraints on the EOS based on the mass M = 2.01 ± 0.04 M ⊙ of PSR J0348+0432, the maximum tidal deformability of GW170817, and earlier results of various terrestrial nuclear laboratory experiments. The lower limit of the skewness J 0 measuring the stiffness of super-dense isospin-symmetric nuclear matter is raised from about -220 MeV to -150 MeV, significantly reducing its current uncertainty range. The lower bound of the high-density symmetry energy also increases appreciably leading to a rise of the minimum proton fraction in neutron stars at β-equilibrium from about 0% to 5% around three times the saturation density of nuclear matter. The difficulties for some of the most widely used and previously well tested model EOSs to simultaneously predict both a maximum mass higher than 2.17 M ⊙ and a pressure consistent with that extracted from GW170817 present some interesting new challenges for nuclear theories.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Bayesian Inference of High-density Nuclear Symmetry Energy from Radii of Canonical Neutron Stars

The radius R 1.4 of neutron stars (NSs) with a mass of 1.4 M ⊙ has been extracted consistently in many recent studies in the literature. Using representative R 1.4 data, we infer high-density nuclear symmetry energy E sym (ρ) and the associated nucleon specific energy E 0 (ρ) in symmetric nuclear matter (SNM) within a Bayesian statistical approach using an explicitly isospin-dependent parametric equation of state (EOS) for nucleonic matter. We found the following. (1) The available astrophysical data can already significantly improve our current knowledge about the EOS in the density range of ρ 0 - 2.5ρ 0 . In particular, the symmetry energy at twice the saturation density ρ 0 of nuclear matter is determined to be E sym (2ρ 0 )=${39.2}_{-8.2}^{+12.1}$ MeV at a 68% confidence level. (2) A precise measurement of R 1.4 alone with a 4% 1σ statistical error but no systematic error will not greatly improve the constraints on the EOS of dense neutron-rich nucleonic matter compared to what we extracted from using the available radius data. (3) The R 1.4 radius data and other general conditions, such as the observed NS maximum mass and causality condition, introduce strong correlations for the high-order EOS parameters. Consequently, the high-density behavior of E sym (ρ) inferred depends strongly on how the high-density SNM EOS E 0 (ρ) is parameterized, and vice versa. (4) Finally, the value of the observed maximum NS mass and whether it is used as a sharp cutoff for the minimum maximum mass or through a Gaussian distribution significantly affects the lower boundaries of both E 0 (ρ) and E sym (ρ) only at densities higher than about 2.5ρ 0 .

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗