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At least 19 records

Exploiting Universality in Atoms with Large Scattering Lengths

The focus of this research project was atoms with scattering lengths that are large compared to the range of their interactions and which therefore exhibit universal behavior at sufficiently low energies. Recent dramatic advances in cooling atoms and in manipulating their scattering lengths have made this phenomenon of practical importance for controlling ultracold atoms and molecules. This research project was aimed at developing a systematically improvable method for calculating few-body observables for atoms with large scattering lengths starting from the universal results as a first approximation. Significant progress towards this goal was made during the five years of the project.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Coboson many-body formalism for atom–dimer scattering length

We use the composite boson (coboson) many-body formalism to tackle scattering lengths for cold fermionic atoms. We show that bound dimers can be taken as elementary entities provided that fermion exchanges between them are treated exactly, as can be done through the coboson formalism. This alternative tool extended to cold atom physics not only makes transparent many-body processes through Shiva diagrams specific to cobosons, but also simplifies calculations. Indeed, the integral equation we derive for the atom–dimer scattering length and solve by restricting the dimer relative motion to the ground state, gives values in remarkable agreement with the exact scattering length values for all fermion mass ratios. This remarkable agreement also holds true for the dimer–dimer scattering length, except for equal fermion masses where our restricted procedure gives a value slightly larger than the accepted one (0.64a d instead of 0.60a d ). All this proves that the scattering of a cold-atom dimer with an atom or another dimer is essentially controlled by the dimer relative-motion ground state, a physical result not obvious at first.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Determination of the {pi}{Sigma} scattering lengths from the weak decays of {Lambda}{sub c}

The scattering lengths of the {pi}{Sigma} systems are key quantities in understanding the structure of the {Lambda}(1405) resonance and the subthreshold extrapolation of the KN interaction. We demonstrate that the {pi}{Sigma} scattering lengths can be extracted from the threshold cusp phenomena in the weak {Lambda}{sub c}{yields}{pi}{pi}{Sigma} decays, analogously with Cabibbo's method for determination of the {pi}{pi} scattering length. We show that the substantial cusp effect should be observed in the spectrum, when the {pi}{Sigma} interaction in I=0 is strongly attractive to generate a near-threshold singularity, such as a bound state or a virtual state.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

𝜌-meson nucleon scattering length from CLAS threshold photoproduction measurements

Here, extending our study of the vector meson-nucleon scattering lengths, we are focusing on the 𝜌-meson case using recent CLAS threshold data for the reaction 𝛾⁢𝑝 →𝜌⁢𝑝 within the meson–baryon reaction model. The total 𝜎 𝑡 ⁡(𝛾⁢𝑝 →𝜌⁢𝑝) and 𝜎 𝑡⁡ (𝛾⁢𝑝 →𝜔⁢𝑝) cross sections are close to the momentum of the vector meson in CM 𝑞 =0.2 GeV/c. Then the 𝜌⁢𝑝 photoproduction cross section grows rapidly. Our result for 𝜌⁢𝑁 scattering length is a factor of 4 smaller than the size of the hadron and the phenomenological determination of the 𝜔 nucleon scattering length using threshold photoproduction cross sections. The observed difference between 𝜌⁢𝑁 and 𝜔⁢𝑁 scattering lengths is of interest for further understanding within hadron structure theory.

Phenomenology↗

Scattering lengths of calcium and barium isotopes

We have calculated the s-wave scattering length of all the even isotopes of calcium (Ca) and barium (Ba) in order to investigate the prospect of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC). For Ca we have used an accurate molecular potential based on detailed spectroscopic data. Our calculations show that Ca does not provide other isotopes alternative to the recently Bose condensed {sup 40}Ca that suffers strong losses because of a very large scattering length. For Ba we show by using a model potential that the even isotopes cover a broad range of scattering lengths, opening the possibility of BEC for at least one of the isotopes.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Elementary excitations and universal interaction in Bose-Einstein condensates at large scattering lengths

We present a theoretical analysis of excitation modes in Bose-Einstein condensates of ultracold alkali-metal gases for large scattering lengths, showing clear deviations from the Bogoliubov prediction as seen by Papp et al.[Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 135301 (2008)]. We construct the atom-atom interaction by deriving the T matrix of such systems from two coupled (open and closed) channels assuming that the Feshbach resonance dominates the latter. We calculate molecular bound-state energies as a function of the magnetic field and compare with available experiments. The s-wave phase shifts determine the local effective interaction with long-ranged repulsion and short-ranged attraction. We show that it becomes a universal function at large scattering lengths. Finally, we use this interaction to characterize the ground-state and elementary excitations of {sup 85}Rb, {sup 87}Rb, and {sup 23}Na gases. Good agreement with line shift experiments in {sup 85}Rb is achieved. We find that, at large scattering lengths, Bragg scattering experiments could directly measure the momentum dependence of the effective two-body potential.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Neutron-neutron scattering length from the 6 He(p,pα)nn reaction

We propose a novel method to measure the neutron-neutron scattering length using the 6 He(p,pα)nn reaction in inverse kinematics at high energies. The method is based on the final-state interaction (FSI) between the neutrons after the sudden knockout of the α particle. We show that the details of the neutron-neutron relative-energy distribution allow for a precise extraction of the s-wave scattering length. Here, we present the state of the art in regard to the theory of this distribution. The distribution is calculated in two steps. First, we calculate the ground-state wave function of 6 He as a αnn three-body system. For this purpose we use Halo effective field theory, which also provides uncertainty estimates for the results. We compare our results at this stage to model calculations done with the computer code face. In a second step we determine the effects of the nn FSI using the nn t-matrix. We compare these FSI results to approximate FSI approaches based on standard FSI enhancement factors. While the final distribution is sensitive to the nn scattering length, it depends only weakly on the effective range. Throughout we emphasize the impact of theoretical uncertainties on the neutron-neutron relative-energy distribution, and discuss the extent to which those uncertainties limit the extraction of the neutron-neutron scattering length from the reaction 6 He(p,pα)nn.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗

Calculation of the {pi}{sup +}{Sigma}{sup +} and {pi}{sup +}{Xi}{sup 0} Scattering Lengths in Lattice QCD

The {pi}{sup +}{Sigma}{sup +} and {pi}{sup +}{Xi}{sup 0} scattering lengths were calculated in mixed-action Lattice QCD with domain-wall valence quarks on the asqtad-improved coarse MILC configurations at four light-quark masses, and at two light-quark masses on the fine MILC configurations. Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory with two and three flavors of light quarks was used to perform the chiral extrapolations. To NNLO in the three-flavor chiral expansion, the kaon-baryon processes that were investigated show no signs of convergence. Using the two-flavor chiral expansion for extrapolation, the pion-hyperon scattering lengths are found to be a{sub {pi}}{sup +}{sub {Sigma}}{sup +} = -0.197{+-}0.017 fm, and a{sub {pi}}{sup +}{sub {Xi}}{sup 0} = -0.098{+-}0.017 fm, where the comprehensive error includes statistical and systematic uncertainties.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

s -wave scattering lengths for the 7 $\hbox{Be} +$ p system from an R -matrix analysis

The astrophysical S factor for the radiative proton capture reaction on Be 7 ( S 17 ) at low energies is affected by the s -wave scattering lengths. Herein, we report the measurement of elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections for the Be 7 + p system in the center-of-mass energy range 0.474–2.740 MeV and center-of-mass angular range 70 ° – 150 ° . A radioactive Be 7 beam produced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility was accelerated and bombarded a thin polypropylene ( CH 2 ) n target. Scattered ions were detected in the segmented Silicon Detector Array. Using an R -matrix analysis of ORNL and Louvain-la-Neuve cross-section data, the s -wave scattering lengths for channel spins 1 and 2 were determined to be 17 . 34 – 1.33 + 1.11 and – 3 . 18 – 0.50 + 0.55 fm, respectively. The uncertainty in the s -wave scattering lengths reported in this work is smaller by a factor of 5–8 compared to the previous measurement, which may reduce the overall uncertainty in S 17 at zero energy. The level structure of B 8 is discussed based upon the results from this work. Evidence for the existence of 0 + and 2 + levels in B 8 at 1.9 and 2.21 MeV, respectively, is observed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Faddeev-Chiral Unitary Approach to the $K^- d$ scattering length

Our earlier Faddeev three-body study in the $K^-$-deuteron scattering length, $A_{K^-d}$, is revisited here in the light of the recent developments in two fronts: {\it (i)} the improved chiral unitary approach to the theoretical description of the coupled $\Kbar N$ related channels at low energies, and {\it (ii)} the new and improved measurement from SIDDHARTA Collaboration of the strong interaction energy shift and width in the lowest $K^-$-hydrogen atomic level. Those two, in combination, have allowed us to produced a reliable two-body input to the three-body calculation. All available low-energy $K^-p$ observables are well reproduced and predictions for the $\Kbar N$ scattering lengths and amplitudes, $(\pi \Sigma)^\circ$ invariant-mass spectra, as well as for $A_{K^-d}$ are put forward and compared with results from other sources. The findings of the present work are expected to be useful in interpreting the forthcoming data from CLAS, HADES, LEPS and SIDDHARTA Collaborations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A spectrometric approach to measuring the Rayleigh scattering length for liquid scintillator detectors

Good optical transparency is a fundamental requirement of liquid scintillator (LS) detectors. Characterizing the transparency of a liquid scintillator to its own emitted light is a key parameter to determine the overall sensitivity of a large-volume detector. The attenuation of light in an optical-pure LS is dominated by Rayleigh scattering, which poses an intrinsic limit to the transparency of LS. This work presents a spectrometric approach of measuring the wavelength-dependent scattering length of liquids by applying the Einstein-Smoluchowski theory to a measurement of scattered light intensity. The scattering lengths of linear alkyl benzene (LAB) and EJ309-base (Di-isopropylnaphthalene, DIN) were measured and are reported in the wavelength range of 410–520 nm. The spectral peak of scintillation light emitted by a nominal LS is around 430 nm at which the scattering lengths for LAB and EJ-309-base were determined to be 27.9 ± 2.3 m and 6.1 ± 0.6 m.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The bound coherent neutron scattering length of the oxygen isotopes

The technique of neutron interferometry was used to measure the bound coherent neutron scattering length bcoh of the oxygen isotopes 17O and 18O. From the measured difference in optical path between two water samples, either H2 17O or H2 18O versus H2 natO, where nat denotes the natural isotopic composition, we obtain bcoh , 17O = 5.867(4) fm and bcoh , 18O = 6.009(5) fm, based on the accurately known value of bcoh , natO = 5.805(4) fm which is equal to bcoh , 16O within the experimental uncertainty. Our results for bcoh , 17O and bcoh , 18O differ appreciably from the standard tabulated values of 5.6(5) fm and 5.84(7) fm, respectively. In particular, our measured scattering length contrast of 0.204(3) fm between 18O and natO is nearly a factor of 6 greater than the tabulated value, which renders feasible neutron diffraction experiments using 18O isotope substitution and thereby offers new possibilites for measuring the partial structure factors of oxygen-containing compounds, such as water.

Fischer, Henry E↗

Isospin symmetry violating effects and scattering length extraction from kaon decays

The isospin symmetry breaking effects in the charged kaons decays to two or three pions are considered. In semileptonic decay K{sup {+-}} {yields} {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}e{sup {+-}}{nu} (called K{sub e4}) these effects turn out to be crucial for correct extraction of {pi}{pi} scattering lengths. Taking in account electromagnetic interaction between the pions in the final state and isospin symmetry breaking due to different masses of charged and neutral pions allows to adjust the values of scattering lengths obtained from experimental data on K{sub e4} decay and predictions of Chiral Perturbation Theory (ChPT). Final state interactions of pions in the decay K{sup {+-}} {yields} {pi}{sup {+-}}{pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0} leading to the anomaly (cusp) in the {pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0} invariant mass distribution in the vicinity of charged pions' threshold are discussed and recent results of accounting of the electromagnetic interaction among charged pions leading to {pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} bound states (pioniumatom) just under the charged pions' threshold are presented.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Applied nonrelativistic conformal field theory: Scattering-length and effective-range corrections to rate of production of three neutrons at low relative momenta

Due to an accidentally large s-wave scattering length, in a relatively wide range of energy, neutrons are approximately described by the nonrelativistic conformal field theory of unitarity fermions, perturbed by one relevant and an infinite number of irrelevant operators. We develop a formalism which provides a nonperturbative definition of local operators in that nonrelativistic conformal field theory. We compute the scattering-length and effective-range corrections to the two-point functions of primary charge-three operators using the technique of conformal perturbation theory. These calculations allow us to find the first corrections to the scale-invariant behavior of the rate of nuclear reactions with three neutrons in the final state in the regime when the neutrons have small relative momenta.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Coulomb-free 1S0 p − p scattering length from the quasi-free p + d → p + p + n reaction and its relation to universality

Abstract The Coulomb-free 1 S 0 proton-proton ( p - p ) scattering length relies heavily on numerous and distinct theoretical techniques to remove the Coulomb contribution. Here, it has been determined from the half-off-the-energy-shell p - p scattering cross section measured at center-of-mass energies below 1 MeV using the quasi-free p + d → p + p + n reaction. A Bayesian data-fitting approach using the expression of the s-wave nucleon-nucleon scattering cross section returned a p - p scattering length $${a}_{pp}=-18.1{7}_{-0.58}^{+0.52}{| }_{stat}\pm 0.0{1}_{syst}$$ a p p = − 18.1 7 − 0.58 + 0.52 ∣ s t a t ± 0.0 1 s y s t fm and effective range r 0 = 2.80 ± 0.05 s t a t ± 0.001 s y s t fm. A model based on universality concepts has been developed to interpret this result. It accounts for the short-range interaction as a whole, nuclear and residual electromagnetic, according to what the s-wave phase-shift δ does in the description of low-energy nucleon-nucleon scattering data. We conclude that our parameters are representative of the short-range physics and propose to assess the charge symmetry breaking of the short-range interaction instead of just the nuclear interaction. This is consistent with the current understanding that the charge dependence of nuclear forces is due to different masses of up-down quarks and their electromagnetic interactions. This achievement suggests that these properties have a lesser than expected impact in the context of the charge symmetry breaking.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Adiabatic and post-adiabatic hyperspherical treatment of the huge ungerade proton-hydrogen scattering length

While the hydrogen molecular ion is the simplest molecule in nature and very well studied in all of its properties, it remains an interesting system to use for explorations of fundamental questions. One such question treated in this study relates to finding an optimal adiabatic representation of the physics, i.e., the best adiabatic description that minimizes the role of nonadiabatic effects. As a test case explored here in detail, we consider the ungerade symmetry of $H$$^{+}_{2}$, which is known to have a huge scattering length of order 750 Bohr radii, and an incredibly weakly bound excited state. We show that a hyperspherical adiabatic description does an excellent job of capturing the main physics. Furthermore, our calculation yields a competitive scattering length and shows that nonadiabatic corrections are small and can even be adequately captured using the post-adiabatic theory of Klar and Fano.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗