Statistical investigation of the angular momentum dependence of the nuclear level density parameter

Abstract

The nuclear level density (NLD) parameter is crucial for calculating cross-sections in nuclear physics, astrophysics, reactor design, and medical physics. Spin and parity, along with excitation energy, are fundamental properties of an excited nuclear level. Previous investigations into the NLD’s dependence on spin and parity have primarily used approximate methods like parity equidistribution and Gaussian distribution of spins. However, the specific impact of spin and parity on the NLD parameter, a key component in NLD formulation, has not been extensively studied. We examined the spin and parity dependence of the NLD parameter. Our findings demonstrate that the NLD parameter’s dependency on both excitation energy and angular momentum can be accurately characterized by a Laplace distribution, highlighting the complex interplay of these factors in nuclear physics.