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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Ground-state properties of neutron magic nuclei

A systematic study of the ground-state properties of the entire chains of even–even neutron magic nuclei represented by isotones of traditional neutron magic numbers N = 8, 20, 40, 50, 82, and 126 has been carried out using relativistic mean-field plus Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer approach. Our present investigation includes deformation, binding energy, two-proton separation energy, single-particle energy, rms radii along with proton and neutron density profiles, etc. Several of these results are compared with the results calculated using nonrelativistic approach (Skyrme–Hartree–Fock method) along with available experimental data and indeed they are found with excellent agreement. In addition, the possible locations of the proton and neutron drip-lines, the (Z, N) values for the new shell closures, disappearance of traditional shell closures as suggested by the detailed analyzes of results are also discussed in detail.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

β-decay of magic nuclei: Beyond mean-field description

Nuclear β-decay plays an important role not only in nuclear physics but also in astrophysics. The widely used self-consistent Random Phase Approximation (RPA) models tend to overestimate the half-lives of magic nuclei. To overcome this problem, we go beyond the mean-field description and include the effects of particle-vibration coupling (PVC) on top of the RPA model. The β-decay half-lives of {sup 34}Si, {sup 68}Ni, {sup 78}Ni, and {sup 132}Sn are studied within this approach in the case of the Skyrme interaction SkM*. It is found that the low-lying Gamow-Teller (GT) strength is shifted downwards with the inclusion of the PVC effect, and as a consequence, the half-lives are reduced due to the increase of the phase space available for β-decay, which leads to a good agreement between theoretical and experimental lifetimes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Nuclear DFT analysis of electromagnetic moments in odd near doubly magic nuclei

We use the nuclear density functional theory to determine nuclear electric quadrupole and magnetic dipole moments in all one-particle and one-hole neighbours of eight doubly magic nuclei. We align angular momenta along the intrinsic axial-symmetry axis with broken time-reversal symmetry, which allows us to explore fully the self-consistent charge, spin, and current polarisation. Spectroscopic moments are determined for symmetry-restored wave functions and compared with available experimental data. We find that the obtained polarisations do not call for using quadrupole- or dipole-moment operators with effective charges or effective g-factors.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Ground-state properties of doubly magic nuclei from the unitary-model-operator approach with chiral two- and three-nucleon forces

The ground-state energies and radii for 4 He, 16 O, and 40 Ca are calculated with the unitary-model-operator approach (UMOA). In the present study, we employ similarity renormalization group (SRG) evolved nucleon-nucleon (NN) and three-nucleon (3N) interactions based on chiral effective field theory. This is the first UMOA calculation with both NN and 3N interactions. The calculated ground-state energies and radii are consistent with the recent ab initio results with the same interaction. Here, we evaluate the expectation values of two- and three-body SRG evolved radius operators, in addition to those of the bare radius operator. With the aid of the higher-body evolution of the radius operator, it is seen that the calculated radii tend to be SRG resolution-scale independent. We find that the SRG evolution gives minor modifications for the radius operator.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Shell closures, loosely bound structures, and halos in exotic nuclei

Inspired by the recent experiments indicating doubly magic nuclei that lie near the drip-line and encouraged by the success of our relativistic mean-field (RMF) plus state-dependent BCS approach to the description of the ground-state properties of drip-line nuclei, we develop this approach further, across the entire periodic table, to explore magic nuclei, loosely bound structures, and halo formation in exotic nuclei. In our RMF+BCS approach, the single-particle continuum corresponding to the RMF is replaced by a set of discrete positive-energy states for the calculations of pairing energy. Detailed analysis of the single-particle spectrum, pairing energies, and densities of the nuclei predict the unusual proton shell closures at proton numbers Z = 6, 14, 16, 34, and unusual neutron shell closures at neutron numbers N = 6, 14, 16, 34, 40, 70, 112. Further, in several nuclei like the neutron-rich isotopes of Ca, Zr, Mo, etc., the gradual filling of lowlying single-particle resonant state together with weakly bound single-particle states lying close to the continuum threshold helps accommodate more neutrons but with an extremely small increase in the binding energy. This gives rise to the occurrence of loosely bound systems of neutron-rich nuclei with a large neutron-to-proton ratio. In general, the halo-like formation, irrespective of the existence of any resonant state, is seen to be due to the large spatial extension of the wave functions for the weakly bound single-particle states with low orbital angular momentum having very small or no centrifugal barriers.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Configuration splitting and gamma-decay transition rates in the two-group shell model

Expressions for reduced gamma-decay transition rates were obtained on the basis of the twogroup configuration model for the case of transitions between particles belonging to identical groups of nucleons. In practical applications, the present treatment is the most appropriate for describing decays for odd–odd nuclei in the vicinity of magic nuclei or for nuclei where the corresponding subshells stand out in energy. Also, a simple approximation is applicable to describing configuration splitting in those cases. The present calculations were performed for nuclei whose mass numbers are close to A ∼ 90, including N = 51 odd—odd isotones.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Magic ultramagnetized nuclei in explosive nucleosynthesis

Direct evidence of the presence of {sup 44}Ti and content of the isotope in the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A are obtained from the analysis of gamma-ray spectrum of the remnant. A significant excess of observational {sup 44}Ti volume on predictions of supernova models can be explained as the magnetization effect in the process of explosive nucleosynthesis. The formation of chemical elements is considered accounting for superstrong magnetic fields predicted for supernovae and neutron stars. Using the arguments of nuclear statistical equilibrium, a significant effect of magnetic field on the nuclear shell energy is demonstrated. The magnetic shift of the most tightly 'bound' nuclei from the transition metals of iron series to titanium leads to an exponential increase in the portion of {sup 44}Ti and, accordingly to a significant excess of the yield of these products of nucleosynthesis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Marine Ice Nuclei Collections – MAGIC (MAGIC-IN) Final Campaign Summary

This campaign augmented measurements obtained via deployment of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility’s ARM Mobile Facility (AMF) in the Marine ARM GPCI1 Investigation of Clouds (MAGIC) field campaign. The measurements, comprised of shipboard aerosol collections obtained during the five legs of the summer 2013 cruises, were sent for offline processing to measure ice nucleating particle (INP) number concentrations. The forty-three sample periods each represented, nominally, 24-hour segments during outbound and inbound transits of the Horizon Spirit. The samples were collected at locations between Los Angeles and Hawaii. Eight samples have been analyzed for immersion freezing temperature spectra thus far, using funding from other grants. Remaining samples are being frozen until support for further processing is obtained. Future analyses will investigate the inorganic/organic proportions of ice nuclei, in addition to determining the genetic composition of the overall biological community associated with INPs. Resulting correlations will be compared with other archived aerosol quantities, meteorological and ocean data (e.g., temperature, wind speed, sea surface temperature, etc…) and satellite ocean color products. These findings will ultimately aid in parameterizing oceanic (e.g., sea spray) INP emissions in regional and global scale models, when illustrating aerosol connections to cloud phases and properties. Independent future analyses of frozen filter samples, as proposed by collaborating investigators at the time of this report, will include single particle analyses of marine boundary layer aerosol compositions and morphology. The MAGIC-IN data are considered representative of the oligotrophic, low Chlorophyll-a (with the exception of near-shore) ocean regions, which exist along the MAGIC transect. Current analyses suggest that INP numbers in the marine boundary layer over this region are typically low, compared to existing measurements over marine areas and those collected in the laboratory as the result of realistic sea spray particle generation. These findings, along with separate studies, confirm the existence of highly variable emission sources for INP from oceans, (though weaker than land-based emissions at modestly cooled temperatures).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2012

Search for spin-orbit-force reduction at {sup 106,108}Zr around r-process path

Shell gap at the magic number N= 82 is important to reproduce the 2nd peak of r-process abundance. If a spin-orbit force is reduced in a very neutron-rich region, a shell quenching at N= 82 and a new shell closure at N70 are predicted. A shell evolution by the spin-orbit-force reduction can be searched for through the shape evolution of Zr isotopes around an expected double magic nuclei, {sup 110}Zr(Z = 40,N = 70). We performed {beta}-{gamma} and isomer spectroscopy at RIBF to observe low-lying states in {sup 106,108}Zr. The present results indicate a well deformed shape for {sup 106,108}Zr. The drastic reduction of the spin-orbit force most likely does not occur around {sup 110}Zr on an r-process path.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Single-particle spectroscopic factors for spherical nuclei

Within the self-consistent theory of finite Fermi systems, the total single-particle spectroscopic factors for seven doubly magic nuclei of {sup 40}Ca, {sup 48}Ca, {sup 56}Ni, {sup 78}Ni, {sup 100}Sn, {sup 132}Sn, and {sup 208}Pb and for the {sup 188–212}Pb chain of semimagic even lead isotopes are calculated by the energy-density-functional method implemented with a functional in the form proposed by Fayans and his coauthors. The spectroscopic factor is expressed in terms of the Z factor, which is the residue of the single-particle Green’s function at the single-particle pole. The total Z factor calculated in the present study involves both effects of coupling to phonons and the volume Z factor, which is due to the fact that the mass operator features an energy dependence not associated with surface phonons. The volume Z factor is on the same order of magnitude as the phonon-coupling contribution. The volume effect depends only slightly on the nuclear species and on the single-particle state λ. On the contrary, the phonon contribution to the total spectroscopic factor changes upon going over from one state to another and from one nuclear species to another.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Realistic fission models, new beta-decay half-lives and the r-process in neutron star mergers

Almost half of heavy nuclei beyond iron are considered to be produced by rapid neutron capture process (r-process). This process occurs in the neutron-rich environment such as core-collapse supernovae or neutron star mergers, but the main production site is still unknown. In the r-process of neutron star mergers, nuclear fission reactions play an important role. Also beta-decay half-lives of magic nuclei are crucial for the r-process. We have carried out r-process nucleosynthesis calculations based upon new theoretical estimates of fission fragment distributions and new beta-decay half-lives for N=82 nuclei measured at RIBF-RIKEN. We investigate the effect of nuclear fission on abundance patterns in the matter ejected from neutron star mergers with two different fission fragment mass distributions. We also discuss how the new experimental beta-decay half-lives affect the r-process.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Shell effects in hot nuclei and their influence on nuclear composition in supernova matter

We calculate nuclear composition in supernova (SN) matter explicitly taking into account the temperature dependence of nuclear shell effects. The abundance of nuclei in SN matter is important in the dynamics of core-collapse supernovae and, in recently constructed equations of state (EOS) for SN matter, the composition of nuclei are calculated assuming nuclear statistical equilibrium wherein the nuclear internal free energies govern the composition. However, in these EOS, thermal effects on the shell energy are not explicitly taken into account. To address this shortfall, we calculate herein the shell energies of hot nuclei and examine their influence on the composition of SN matter. Following a simplified macroscopic-microscopic approach, we first calculate single-particle (SP) energies by using a spherical Woods-Saxon potential. Then we extract shell energies at finite temperatures using Strutinsky method with the Fermi distribution as the average occupation probability of the SP levels. The results show that at relatively low temperatures, shell effects are still important and magic nuclei are abundant. However, at temperatures above approximately 2 MeV, shell effects are almost negligible, and the mass fractions with shell energies including the thermal effect are close to those obtained from a simple liquid drop model at finite temperatures.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Particle-vibration coupling: Recent advances in microscopic calculations with the Skyrme Hamiltonian

In this contribution, we report some recent progress in our understanding of particle-vibration coupling (PVC) in nuclei. In particular, we first review the formal development that has allowed some of us to deduce the PVC equations within the Green’s functionmethod. Applications are then discussed, both in the case of single-particle states and giant resonances in magic nuclei. We also present a new model that extends the PVC ansatz and is meant to account for the complete low-lying spectra of odd nuclei.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

On spectroscopic factors of magic and semimagic nuclei

Single-particle spectroscopic factors (SF) of magic and semimagic nuclei are analyzed within the self-consistent theory of finite Fermi systems. The the in-volume energy dependence of the mass operator Σ is taken into account in addition to the energy dependence induced by the surface-phonon coupling effects which is commonly considered. It appears due to the effect of high-lying collective and non-collective particle-hole excitations and persists in nuclear matter. The self-consistent basis of the energy density functional method by Fayans et al. is used. Both the surface and in-volume contributions to the SFs turned out to be of comparable magnitude. Results for magic {sup 208}Pb nucleus and semimagic lead isotopes are presented.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Seniority in quantum many-body systems. I. Identical particles in a single shell

A discussion of the seniority quantum number in many-body systems is presented. The analysis is carried out for bosons and fermions simultaneously but is restricted to identical particles occupying a single shell. The emphasis of the paper is on the possibility of partial conservation of seniority which turns out to be a peculiar property of spin-9/2 fermions but prevalent in systems of interacting bosons of any spin. Partial conservation of seniority is at the basis of the existence of seniority isomers, frequently observed in semi-magic nuclei, and also gives rise to peculiar selection rules in one-nucleon transfer reactions. - Highlights: • Unified derivation of conditions for the total and partial conservation of seniority. • General analysis of the partial conservation of seniority in boson systems. • Why partial conservation of seniority is crucial for seniority isomers in nuclei. • The effect of partial conservation of seniority on one-nucleon transfer intensities.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

Effects of realistic tensor force on nuclear structure

First-order tensor-force effects on nuclear structure are investigated in the self-consistent mean-field and RPA calculations with the M3Y-type semi-realistic interactions, which contain the realistic tensor force. The tensor force plays a key role in Z- or N-dependence of the shell structure, and in transitions involving spin degrees-of-freedom. It is demonstrated that the semi-realistic interactions successfully describe the N-dependence of the shell structure in the proton-magic nuclei (e.g. Ca and Sn), and the magnetic transitions (e.g. M1 transition in {sup 208}Pb).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

On microscopic theory of radiative nuclear reaction characteristics

A survey of some results in the modern microscopic theory of properties of nuclear reactions with gamma rays is given. First of all, we discuss the impact of Phonon Coupling (PC) on the Photon Strength Function (PSF) because it represents the most natural physical source of additional strength found for Sn isotopes in recent experiments that could not be explained within the standard HFB + QRPA approach. The self-consistent version of the Extended Theory of Finite Fermi Systems in the Quasiparticle Time Blocking Approximation is applied. It uses the HFB mean field and includes both the QRPA and PC effects on the basis of the SLy4 Skyrme force. With our microscopic E1 PSFs, the following properties have been calculated for many stable and unstable even–even semi-magic Sn and Ni isotopes as well as for double-magic {sup 132}Sn and {sup 208}Pb using the reaction codes EMPIRE and TALYS with several Nuclear Level Density (NLD) models: (1) the neutron capture cross sections; (2) the corresponding neutron capture gamma spectra; (3) the average radiative widths of neutron resonances. In all the properties considered, the PC contribution turned out to be significant, as compared with the standard QRPA one, and necessary to explain the available experimental data. The results with the phenomenological so-called generalized superfluid NLD model turned out to be worse, on the whole, than those obtained with the microscopic HFB + combinatorial NLD model. The very topical question about the M1 resonance contribution to PSFs is also discussed.Finally, we also discuss the modern microscopic NLD models based on the self-consistent HFB method and show their relevance to explain the experimental data as compared with the phenomenological models. The use of these self-consistent microscopic approaches is of particular relevance for nuclear astrophysics, but also for the study of double-magic nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The Hagedorn spectrum, nuclear level densities and first order phase transitions

An exponential mass spectrum, like the Hagedorn spectrum, with slope 1/T{sub H} was interpreted as fixing an upper limiting temperature T{sub H} that the system can achieve. However, thermodynamically, such spectrum indicates a 1{sup st} order phase transition at a fixed temperature T{sub H}. A much lower energy example is the log linear level nuclear density below the neutron binding energy that prevails throughout the nuclear chart. We show that, for non-magic nuclei, such linearity implies a 1{sup st} order phase transition from the pairing superfluid to an ideal gas of quasi particles.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗