Core polarization and Coulomb displacement energies

Abstract

Abstract A systematic study of the core polarization correction to Coulomb displacement energies is carried out. A zero range density independent and density dependent force is used to calculate this correction in the A = 16, A = 40, and A = 208 regions. It is found that the core polarization correction does not increase the Coulomb displacement energies and, therefore, cannot resolve the existing discrepancy between theory and experiment. Moreover, when the mean square radius of the excess neutron distribution is decreased the core polarization correction to the Coulomb energy becomes attractive and cancels the gain resulting from the direct Coulomb term. Hence, it is concluded that the discrepancy cannot be resolved even when the excess neutron distribution has an anomalously small radius. It is also pointed out that when the core polarization term is added the discrepancy is almost equal in mirror nuclei with a single hole in the N = Z core and those with a single particle outside the same core. Evidently, additional charge asymmetric corrections are required to resolve the discrepancies in Coulomb displacement energies.