Gamow-Teller Strength Research Articles

Re-examination of nuclear structure properties and shape co-existence of nuclei around A ∼ 70

We re-examine the nuclear structure properties of waiting point nuclei around A ∼ 70 using the interacting boson model-1 (IBM-1) and the relativistic mean field (RMF) model. Effective density-dependent meson-exchange functional (DD-ME2) and density-dependent point-coupling functional (DD-PC1) were used for the RMF calculations. We calculated the energy levels, the geometric shapes, binding and separation energies of nucleons and quadrupole deformation parameters (β2). The shape co-existence phenomena in A ∼ 70 nuclei (68Se, 70Se, 70Br, 70Kr, 72Kr, 74Kr, 74Rb and 74Sr) was later investigated. Spherical and deformed shapes of the selected waiting point nuclei were computed using the IBM-1 and RMF models, respectively. The proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) model was used to calculate β-decay properties (Gamow-Teller strength distributions, β-decay half-lives and branching ratios) of selected nuclei as a function of β2. The results revealed a significant variation in calculated half-lives and Gamow-Teller strength distributions as the shape parameter was changed. The β2 computed via DD-ME2 functional resulted in half-lives in best agreement with the measured data.

A method for semi-empirical calculation of isospin mixing probability in nuclei

Abstract A method has been proposed for an isolated two-level model calculation of isospin mixing probability in nuclei. It uses minimum experimental inputs. This method is capable of locating the unperturbed levels of an observed isospin mixed doublet. Isospin mixing probabilities, unperturbed level energies of the observed doublets and isospin mixing matrix elements are calculated for five self-conjugate isotopes of (Mg, P, S, Cl, Ar). Using experimental Gamow-Teller strength data, large isospin mixing probability ( 39.572 − 8.271 + 9.082 %) has been found in the observed doublet (1+, 1+) at 9828.0 and 9965.3 keV, respectively, in 24Mg. This is probably the largest isospin mixing ever found in a nucleus. This is much larger than that ( 20.000 − 9.904 + 9.142 %) has been found recently in non self-conjugate 26Si sd-shell nucleus. This is also larger than that ( 27.5 + 2.5 − 2.5 %) has been measured in non self-conjugate fp-shell nucleus 55Ni. Calculated mixing probability in 24Mg has been used to predict the unknown Gamow-Teller strength for the transitions from the levels of 24Al and 24Alm to the levels in 24Mg. The method is general enough to be applicable to other two-level model applications.

Effects of Residual Tensor and Pairing Forces on the Gamow–Teller states in Magic Nuclei, 48Ca, 90Zr, 132Sn, and 208Pb

Abstract We investigate the effects of residual tensor force (TF) and pairing force on the Gamow–Teller (GT) transitions in four magic nuclei, 48Ca, 90Zr, 132Sn and 208Pb. The TF is taken into account by using the Brückner G-matrix theory with the charge-dependent (CD) Bonn potential as the residual interaction of charge-exchange quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA). We found that particle–particle (p–p) tensor interaction does not affect the GT transitions because of the closed shell nature in the nuclei, but repulsive particle–hole (p–h) residual interaction for the p–h configuration of spin-orbit partners dominates the high-lying giant GT states for all of the nuclei. It is also shown that appreciable GT strengths are shifted to a lower energy region by the attractive p–h TF for the same jπ = jν configuration, and produce the low-lying GT peak about 2.5 MeV in 48Ca. Simultaneously, in 90Zr and 132Sn, the low-energy GT strength appears as a lower energy shoulder near the main GT peak. On the other hand, the shift of the low-lying GT state is not seen clearly for 208Pb because of the strong spin-orbit splitting of high j orbits, which dominates the GT strength.

Re-Examination of the Effect of Pairing Gaps on Gamow–Teller Strength Distributions and β-Decay Rates

β-decay is one of the key factors for understanding the r-process and evolution of massive stars. The Gamow–Teller (GT) transitions drive the β-decay process. We employ the proton–neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) model to calculate terrestrial and stellar β-decay rates for 50 top-ranked nuclei possessing astrophysical significance according to a recent survey. The model parameters of the pn-QRPA model affect the predicted results of β-decay. The current study investigates the effect of nucleon–nucleon pairing gaps on charge-changing transitions and the associated β decay rates. Three different values of pairing gaps, namely TF, 3TF, and 5TF, were used in our investigation. It was concluded that both GT strength distributions and half-lives are sensitive to pairing gap values. The 3TF pairing gap scheme, in our chosen nuclear model, resulted in the best prediction with around 80% of the calculated half-lives within a factor 10 of the measured ones. The 3TF pairing scheme also led to the calculation of the biggest β-decay rates in stellar matter.

Re-analysis of the Gamow-Teller distributions for [formula omitted] nuclei, 24Mg, 28Si, and 32S

The Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions of sd-shell N=Z nuclei (24Mg, 28Si, and 32S) are investigated within the framework of proton–neutron quasi-particle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) using a deformed basis. The nuclear properties of these special nuclei were investigated by the Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) model. The RMF framework with density-dependent interactions (DD-PC1 and DD-ME2) was employed to compute ground-state deformation parameters (β2) using potential energy curves. The β2 values computed from the RMF and the finite range droplet model (FRDM) were employed as a free parameter in the pn-QRPA calculation to investigate the resulting GT strength distributions. The present model-based analyses compare well with the observed data.

What can we learn from recent 2ν β β experiments?*

Abstract Recent measurements of the two neutrino double beta decay high precision electron spectra, combined with charge exchange or β-decay experimental data, have revealed severe constraints across current nuclear many body calculations. Our calculations show that the quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA) approach can adequately reproduce the measured spectra for the two open shell nuclei, Se and Mo. For the closed shell nucleus Xe, QRPA can also reproduce the spectra with proper treatments. Considering the high-lying state reduction, we also find that the nuclear shell model can also adequately reproduce the spectra and Gamow-Teller transition strength under a unique quenched axial-vector coupling constant . For Xe, we find that flipping the sign for the decay strength causes the spectra to go beyond the so-called high-lying state dominance hypothesis. These results call for future high precision measurements of charge-exchange reactions.

INVESTIGATION OF GAMOW-TELLER STRENGTHS FOR A=34 AND A=37 NUCLEI

In this work, the Gamow-Teller transition strength distributions in sd-shell region were investigated by using shell model. The calculations of B(GT) and their accumulated sum ∑B(GT) for the nuclei 34Ar→34Cl, 34S→34Cl, 37Cl→37Ar, and 37Ca→37K were performed using the shell model by utilizing the USDB and USDA effective interactions in the sd-shell. The transitions for the nuclei are studied. The results for the B(GT) and ∑B(GT) are discussed and compared to the most recent observed data. The measured GT distributions and the cumulative transition intensities B(GT) are in a fair amount of agreement with the theoretical calculations. We have established a qualitative agreement for the individual transformations, and the measured cumulative transformation strengths nearly match the observed ones.

Stellar weak-interaction rates for rp-process waiting-point nuclei from projected shell model

We propose a projected shell model (PSM) for description of stellar weak-interaction rates between even-even and odd-odd nuclei with extended configuration space where up to six-quasiparticle (qp) configurations are included, and the stellar weak-interaction rates for eight rp-process waiting-point (WP) nuclei, 64Ge, 68Se, 72Kr, 76Sr, 80Zr, 84Mo, 88Ru and 92Pd, are calculated and analyzed for the first time within the model. Higher-order qp configurations are found to affect the underlying Gamow-Teller strength distributions and the corresponding stellar weak-interaction rates. Under rp-process environments with high temperatures and densities, on one hand, thermal population of excited states of parent nuclei tends to decrease the stellar β+ decay rates. On the other hand, the possibility of electron capture (EC) tends to provide increasing contribution to the rates with temperature and density. The effective half-lives of WP nuclei under the rp-process peak condition are predicted to be reduced as compared with the terrestrial case, especially for 64Ge and 68Se.

Gamow–Teller Beta Decay and Pseudo-SU(4) Symmetry

We report on recent experimental results on β decay into self-conjugate (N=Z) nuclei with mass number 58≤A≤70. Super-allowed β decays from the Jπ=0+ ground state of a Z=N+2 parent nucleus are to the isobaric analogue state through so-called Fermi transitions and to Jπ=1+ states by way of Gamow–Teller (GT) transitions. The operator of the latter decay is a generator of Wigner’s SU(4) algebra and as a consequence GT transitions obey selection rules associated with this symmetry. Since SU(4) is progressively broken with increasing A, mainly as a consequence of the spin–orbit interaction, this symmetry is not relevant for the nuclei considered here. We argue, however, that the pseudo-spin–orbit splitting can be small in nuclei with 58≤A≤70, in which case nuclear states exhibit an approximate pseudo-SU(4) symmetry. To test this conjecture, GT decay strength is calculated with use of a schematic Hamiltonian with pseudo-SU(4) symmetry. Some generic features of the GT β decay due to pseudo-SU(4) symmetry are pointed out. The experimentally observed GT strength indicates a restoration of pseudo-SU(4) symmetry for A=70.

Re-examination of β-decay in Hg, Pb and Po Isotopes

This study re-examines the effect of nuclear deformation on the calculated Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions of neutron-deficient (178−192Hg, 185−194Pb and 196−206Po) nuclei. The nuclear ground state properties and shape parameters were calculated using the Relativistic Mean Field model. Three different density-dependent interactions (D3C, DD-ME2 and DD-PC1) were used in the calculation. Estimated shape parameters were later used within the framework of deformed proton-neutron quasi-random phase approximations model, with a separable interaction, to calculate the GT strength distributions, half-lives and branching ratios for these neutron–deficient isotopes. It was concluded that half-lives and GT strength distributions vary considerably with change in shape parameter.

Validity of Brink-Axel Hypothesis for calculations of allowed stellar weak rates of heavy nuclei

The knowledge of beta-decay transitional probabilities and Gamow-Teller (GT) strength functions from highly excited states of nuclides is of particular importance for applications to astrophysical network calculations of nucleosynthesis in explosive stellar events. These quantities are challenging to achieve from measurements or computations using various nuclear models. Due to unavailability of feasible alternatives, many theoretical studies often rely on the Brink-Axel (BA) hypothesis, that is, the response of strength functions depends merely on the transition energy of the parent nuclear ground state and is independent of the underlying details of the parent state, for the calculation of stellar rates. BA hypothesis has been used in many applications from nuclear structure determination to nucleosynthesis yield in the astrophysical matter. We explore here the the validity of BA hypothesis in the calculation of stellar beta-decay (BD) and electron capture (EC) weak rates of fp- and fpg-shell nuclides for GT transitions. Strength functions have been computed employing the fully microscopic proton-neutron QRPA (quasi-particle random-phase approximation) within a broad density, ρY e = (10-1011) [g cm−3], and temperature, T = (1−30) [GK], grid relevant to the pre-collapse astrophysical environment. Our work provides evidence that the use of the approximation based on the BA hypothesis does not lead to reliable calculations of excited states strength functions under extreme temperature-density conditions characteristic of presupernova and supernova evolution of massive stars. Weak rates obtained by incorporating the BA hypothesis in the calculation of strength functions substantially deviate from the rates based on the state-by-state microscopically calculated strength functions. Deviation in the two calculations becomes significant as early as neon burning phases of massive stars. The deviation in the calculation of BD rates is even more pronounced, reaching up to three orders of magnitude.

Nuclear Spin-Isospin Response within the Fayans Functional

An effective approximation to a fully self-consistent global description of the total force function of b decay within the framework of the theory of finite Fermi systems is presented, based on the calculation of ground states within the framework of the modified energy density functional of Fayans et al. (DF3-f) and the continuum quasiparticle random phase approximation (CQRPA). The isovector parameter ℎ2− of the volume part of the functional has been refined, the permissible range of which was determined earlier by us from restrictions on the parameters of the equation of state for nuclear matter—the symmetry energy and its derivative at equilibrium density, obtained from a joint analysis of the value of the ‘‘neutron skin’’ ΔRnp of the nuclei 208Pb and 48Ca, found in the PREX-II and CREX experiments, results of ab initio calculations of the properties of the ground states of nuclei with the interaction of N3LO and systematics of data on the masses of neutron stars from astrophysical observations. New calculations of the Gamow–Teller strength functions for the reference doubly magic nuclei 208Pb and 132Sn, as well as for the nucleus 130Sn with developed neutron pairing have been carried out. In the proposed model, the global DF3-a + CQRPA calculations of beta-decay half-lives of heavy (quasi)spherical nuclei with Z = 81–83 and T1/2 240 s are conducted. Experimental lifetimes are described with accuracy up to factor 5.

Neutrino Spectrum and Energy Loss Rates Due to Weak Processes on Hot 56Fe in Pre-Supernova Environment

Applying TQRPA calculations of Gamow–Teller strength functions in hot nuclei, we compute the (anti)neutrino spectra and energy loss rates arising from weak processes on hot 56Fe under pre-supernova conditions. We use a realistic pre-supernova model calculated by the stellar evolution code MESA. Taking into account both charged and neutral current processes, we demonstrate that weak reactions with hot nuclei can produce high-energy (anti)neutrinos. We also show that, for hot nuclei, the energy loss via (anti)neutrino emission is significantly larger than that for nuclei in their ground state. It is found that the neutral current de-excitation via the νν¯-pair emission is presumably a dominant source of antineutrinos. In accordance with other studies, we confirm that the so-called single-state approximation for neutrino spectra might fail under certain pre-supernova conditions.

β^{+} Gamow-Teller Strengths from Unstable ^{14}O via the (d,^{2}He) Reaction in Inverse Kinematics.

For the first time, the (d,^{2}He) reaction was successfully used in inverse kinematics to extract the Gamow-Teller transition strength in the β^{+} direction from an unstable nucleus. The new technique was made possible by the use of an active-target time-projection chamber and a magnetic spectrometer, and opens a path to addressing a range of scientific challenges, including in astrophysics and neutrino physics. In this Letter, the nucleus studied was ^{14}O, and the Gamow-Teller transition strength to ^{14}N was extracted up to an excitation energy of 22MeV. The data were compared to shell-model and state-of-the-art coupled-cluster calculations. Shell-model calculations reproduce the measured Gamow-Teller strength distribution up to about 15MeV reasonably well, after the application of a phenomenological quenching factor. In a significant step forward to better understand this quenching, the coupled-cluster calculation reproduces the full strength distribution well without such quenching, owing to the large model space, the inclusion of strong correlations, and the coupling of the weak interaction to two nucleons through two-body currents.

Studying Gamow-Teller transitions and the assignment of isomeric and ground states at N = 50

Direct mass measurements of neutron-deficient nuclides around the N=50 shell closure below 100Sn were performed at the FRS Ion Catcher (FRS-IC) at GSI, Germany. The nuclei were produced by projectile fragmentation of 124Xe, separated in the fragment separator FRS and delivered to the FRS-IC. The masses of 14 ground states and two isomers were measured with relative mass uncertainties down to 1×10−7 using the multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer of the FRS-IC, including the first direct mass measurements of 98Cd and 97Rh. A new QEC=5437±67 keV was obtained for 98Cd, resulting in a summed Gamow-Teller (GT) strength for the five observed transitions (0+⟶1+) as B(GT)=2.94−0.28+0.32. Investigation of this result in state-of-the-art shell model approaches accounting for the first time experimentally observed spectrum of GT transitions points to a perfect agreement for N=50 isotones. The excitation energy of the long-lived isomeric state in 94Rh was determined for the first time to be 293±21 keV. This, together with the shell model calculations, allows the level ordering in 94Rh to be understood.

Gamow-Teller excitations in the Subtracted Second RPA approach

The charge-exchange subtracted second random-phase approximation, based on Skyrme functionals, is employed to investigate the Gamow-Teller resonances in several nuclei, located in different regions of the nuclear chart. The amount of Gamow-Teller strength is considerably smaller than in other energy-density-functional based calculations and agrees better with the experimental data. These important results, obtained without any ad hoc quenching factors, are due to the inclusion of two-particle–two-hole configurations. Their density progressively increases with excitation energy, leading to a long high-energy tail in the spectrum. This result may have implications for the computation of nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay in the same framework.

Origin of the Reactor Antineutrino Anomalies in Light of a New Summation Model with Parametrized β^{-} Transitions.

We investigate the possible origins of the reactor antineutrino anomalies in norm and shape within the framework of a summation model where β^{-} transitions are simulated by a phenomenological model of Gamow-Teller decay strength. The general trends of divergence from the Huber-Mueller model on the antineutrino side can be reproduced in both norm and shape. From the exact electron-antineutrino correspondence of the summation model, we predict similar distortions in the electron spectra, suggesting that biases on the reference spectra of fission electrons could be the cause of the anomalies.

R-Matrix study of the β+decay of 8B to the highly excited states of 8Be

Experiment IS633 was conducted at the ISOLDE facility with the aim of studying the 2+ isospin doublet of 8Be, the only expected case of nearly equal isospin configuration mixing. The doublet was previously probed by reaction studies where the feeding does not depend on the isospin. Beta decay studies are sensitive to the isospin composition of the doublet since the Fermi and Gamow-Teller strengths are heavily dependent of isospin. In this experiment the doublet was probed through the EC/β+ feeding from 8B. A four-particle telescope setup with a C-foil in the centre was employed to stop the 8B beam, the implanted nucleus would decay and populate the doublet that breaks up in two alpha particles that are detected. The statistics achieved in this experiment were two orders of magnitude higher than that of any previous experiment, enabling the first experimental observation of both contributions to the doublet.

Investigation of β-decay properties of neutron-rich Cerium isotopes

Reliable and precise knowledge of the β-decay properties of neutron-rich nuclei is important for a better understanding of the r-process. We report the computation of β-decay properties of neutron-rich Cerium isotopes calculated within the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) approach. A total of 34 isotopes of Ce in the mass range 120 ≤ A ≤ 157 were considered in our calculation. Pairing gaps are recognized amongst the key parameters in the pn-QRPA model to compute Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions. We employed two different values of the pairing gaps obtained from two different empirical formulae in our computation. The GT strength distributions changed considerably with a change in the pairing gap values. This in turn resulted in contrasting centroid and total strength values of the GT distributions and led to differences in calculated half-lives using the two schemes. The traditional pairing gaps resulted in significant fragmentation of GT strength. However, the pairing gaps, calculated employing the formula based on separation energies of neutron and proton, led to computed half-lives in better agreement with the measured data.

Bulk and decay properties of neutron-deficient odd-mass Hg isotopes near A=185

Ground and isomeric states of the neutron-deficient odd-$A$ isotopes $^{183}$Hg, $^{185}$Hg, and $^{187}$Hg are described from a microscopic calculation based on a self-consistent, axially-deformed Hartree-Fock mean field with the Skyrme functional and pairing within BCS approximation. For each equilibrium shape and different odd-neutron states, results on mean square charge radii and magnetic dipole moments are given and analyzed in the context of their sensitivity to the nuclear deformation and to the spin and parity. Spin-isospin correlations within proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation are then introduced in the nuclear states to obtain the distributions of Gamow-Teller strength and the $\beta^+/EC$ half-lives of these isotopes, whose measurements are planned at ISOLDE-CERN using total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques.