Two-proton radioactivity of exotic nuclei beyond proton drip-line

To search for new candidates of the true and simultaneous two-proton(2 p) radioactivity, the 2 p decay energies(Q2 p) are extracted by the Weizs?cker–Skyrme-4(WS4) model, the finite-range droplet model(FRDM), the Koura–Tachibana–Uno–Yamada(KTUY) model and the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov mean-field model with the BSk29 Skyrme interaction(HFB29). Then, the 2 p radioactivity half-lives are calculated within the generalized liquid drop model by inputting the four types of Q2 pvalues. By the energy and half-life constraints, it is found that the probable 2 p decay candidates are the nuclei beyond the proton-drip line in the region of Z≤50 based on the WS4 and KTUY mass models. For the FRDM mass model, the probable 2 p decay candidates are found in the region of Z≤44. However, the 2p-decaying candidates are predicted in the region of Z≤58 by the HFB29 mass model. It means that the probable 2 p decay candidates of Z50 are only predicted by the HFB29 mass model. Finally, the competition between the true 2p radioactivity and α-decay for the nuclei above the N=Z=50 shell closures is discussed. It is shown that ~(101)Te,~(111)Ba and ~(114)Ce prefer to 2p radioactivity and the dominant decay mode of ~(107)Xe and ~(116)Ce is α-decay.     

Nuclear properties of Z=114 isotopes and shell structure of ~(298)114

The two-neutron separation energies(S_(2n)) and α-decay energies(Q_α) of the Z=114 isotopes are calculated by the deformed Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov(SHFB) approach with the SLy5,T22,T32 and T43 interactions.It is found that the tensor force effect on the bulk properties is weak and the shell closure at N=184 is seen evidently with these interactions by analyzing the S_(2n) and Q_α evolutions with neutron number N.Meanwhile,the single-particle energy spectra of ~(298)114 are studied using the spherical SHFB approach with these interactions to furthermore examine the shell structure of the magic nucleus ~(298)114.It is shown that the shell structure is almost not changed by the inclusion of the tensor force in the Skyrme interactions.Finally,by examining the energy splitting of the three pairs of pseudospin partners for the protons and neutrons of ~(298)114,it is concluded that the pseudospin symmetry of the neutron states is preserved better than that of the proton states and not all of the pseudospin symmetries of the proton and neutron states are influenced by the tensor force.     

Examination of n-T_9 conditions required by N=50,82,126 waiting points in r-process

We examined the conditions of neutron density(n) and temperature(T_9) required for the N = 50, 82,and 126 isotopes to be waiting points(WP) in the r-process. The nuclear mass based on experimental data presented in the AME2020 database(AME and AME ±Δ) and that predicted using FRDM,WS4, DZ10, and KTUY models were employed in our estimations. We found that the conditions required by the N = 50 WP significantly overlap with those required by the N = 82 ones, except for the WS4 model. In addition, the upper(or lower) bounds of the n-T_9 conditions based on the models are different from each other due to the deviations in the two-neutron separation energies.The standard deviations in the nuclear mass of 108 isotopes in the three N = 50, 82, and 126 groups are about rms = 0.192 and 0.434 Me V for the pairs of KTUY-AME and WS4-KTUY models,respectively. We found that these mass uncertainties result in a large discrepancy in the nn-T_9 conditions, leading to significant differences in the conditions for simultaneously appearing all the three peaks in the r-process abundance. The newly updated FRDM and WS4 calculations can give the overall conditions for the appearance of all the peaks but vice versa for their old versions in a previous study. The change in the final r-process isotopic abundance due to the mass uncertainty is from a few factors to three orders of magnitude. Therefore, accurate nuclear masses of the r-process key nuclei, especially for ~(76) Fe,~(81)Cu,~(127)Rh,~(132)Cd,~(192)Dy, and ~(197)Tm, are highly recommended to be measured in radioactive-ion beam facilities for a better understanding of the r-process evolution.     

Favored α-decays of medium mass nuclei in density-dependent cluster model

We present a systematic calculation on α-decay half-lives of medium mass nuclei by the improved version of density-dependent cluster model, in which the nuclear potential between α-particle and daughter nucleus is obtained from the double-folding integral of the renormalized M3Y nucleon–nucleon interaction with the matter density distributions of α-particle and daughter nucleus, and the Coulomb potential is obtained from the double-folding integral of the proton–proton Coulomb interaction with the charge density distributions of α-particle and daughter nucleus. For the favored transitions from nuclear ground states, the theoretical partial half-lives of α-decay are in good agreement with experimental ones. On average, the density-dependent cluster model (DDCM) can reproduce the experimental α-decay half-lives of nuclei with Z=52–80 to within a factor of 3 or better. Therefore DDCM gives reliable and accurate results for favored α-decays in the medium mass region.     

Decay properties of the X(3872) through the Fierz rearrangement

We systematically construct all the tetraquark currents of J^PC = 1⁺⁺ with the quark configurations $[{cq}][\bar{c}\bar{q}]$, $[\bar{c}q][\bar{q}c]$, and $[\bar{c}c][\bar{q}q]$ (q = u/d). Their relations are derived using the Fierz rearrangement of the Dirac and color indices, through which we study decay properties of the X(3872) under both the compact tetraquark and hadronic molecule interpretations. We conduct a search for the X(3872) → χ_c0π, η_cππ, and χ_c1ππ decay processes in particle experiments.     

有效液滴模型对超铅区结团放射性的研究

利用有效液滴模型计算了超铅区结团放射半衰期.在计算Gamow势垒穿透因子时采用了碎块体积不守恒以及有效惯性系数因子,并用有效的核半径常数公式代替原来的经验公式.理论计算得到的结团放射半衰期和实验值符合得很好,其半衰期对数值的均方差只有0.895.理论结果表明,有效液滴模型能充分反映N=126和Z=82的壳效应,并且在奇数结团25Ne,29Mg中出现了明显的奇偶质量摆动现象.另外,理论计算得到的结团半衰期基本符合盖革-努塔尔定律,并基于理论结果得到了一些关于盖革-努塔尔定律的有意义的结论.     

α Decay Properties of Even-Even Nuclei~(296-308)120 Within the Two-Potential Approach

In the present work,we predict the α decay half-lives of unknown even-even nuclei ~(296-308)120 within the two-potential approach,whose α decay energy Qa is calculated using WS3+mass model.To reduce the deviations between the predictions and experimental data due to nuclear shell effect,the analytic formula of α decay hindrance factor is introduced to the two-potential approach,whose parameters had been extracted from even-even nuclei in the region of 82 Z 126 and 152 N 184 in our previous work [Deng et al.,Chin.Phys.C 42(2018) 044102].In addition,for comparing,we use a type of α decay general formula Universal Decay Law(UDL) and a semi-empirical formula in the superheavy nucleus(SEMFLS) to calculate the half-lives of even-even nuclei ~(296-308)120.The results indicate that our predicted values and the calculated values of the above two empirical formulas are mutually confirmed.Meanwhile,we systematically study α decay chains of ~(296-308)120 and predict the decay modes for superheavy nuclei to help to identify new superheavy isotopes.     

Isomerism in Ag and non-yrast levels in Pd and Rh, studied in β decay

The β decay of ⁹⁶Ag (Z=47,N=49) was investigated by measuring positrons, X rays as well as β-delayed protons and γ rays. The γ radiation was studied by means of germanium detectors and a NaI total-absorption spectrometer. Two β-decaying isomers in ⁹⁶Ag were established with half-lives of 4.40(6) and 6.9(6) s and tentative spin–parity assignments of (8⁺) and (2⁺), respectively. For both isomers, the intensities of β transitions to low-lying levels of ⁹⁶Pd (Z=46,N=50) and β-delayed proton decays to levels in ⁹⁵Rh (Z=45,N=50) were measured. Several new ⁹⁶Pd levels were firmly established. The level energies, their γ decays and the Gamow–Teller decay of ⁹⁶Ag are compared to shell-model predictions. A new low-lying level in ⁹⁵Rh was found at 680 keV excitation energy. Through a comparison with low-lying states of N=50 isotones, this level is interpreted as the first excited 7/2⁺ state built on the proton 9/2⁺ ground state. The assignments of further excited states in ⁹⁵Rh are discussed.     

Consistency of optimizing finite-time Carnot engines with the low-dissipation model in the two-level atomic heat engine

The efficiency at the maximum power (EMP) for finite-time Carnot engines established with the low-dissipation model, relies significantly on the assumption of the inverse proportion scaling of the irreversible entropy generation ΔS^(ir) on the operation time τ, i.e. ΔS^(ir) ∝ 1/τ. The optimal operation time of the finite-time isothermal process for EMP has to be within the valid regime of the inverse proportion scaling. Yet, such consistency was not tested due to the unknown coefficient of the 1/τ-scaling. In this paper, we reveal that the optimization of the finite-time two-level atomic Carnot engines with the low-dissipation model is consistent only in the regime of η_C < 2(1 − δ)/(1 + δ), where η_C is the Carnot efficiency, and δ is the compression ratio in energy level difference of the heat engine cycle. In the large-η_C regime, the operation time for EMP obtained with the low-dissipation model is not within the valid regime of the 1/τ-scaling, and the exact EMP of the engine is found to surpass the well-known bound η₊ = η_C/(2 − η_C).     

Precision measurements and tau neutrino physics in a future accelerator neutrino experiment

We investigate prospects of building a future accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiment in China, including site selection, beam optimization and tau neutrino physics aspects. CP violation, non-unitary mixing and non-standard neutrino interactions are discussed. We simulate neutrino beam setups based on muon and beta decay techniques and compare Chinese laboratory sites by their expected sensitivities. A case study on the Super Proton–Proton Collider and the China JinPing Laboratory is also presented. It is shown that the muon-decay-based beam setup can measure the Dirac CP phase by about 14.2° precision at 1σ CL, whereas non-unitarity can be probed down to ∣α_ij∣ ≲ 0.37 (i ≠ j = 1, 2, 3) and non-standard interactions to $| {\epsilon }_{{\ell }{\ell }^{\prime} }^{m}| \lesssim $ 0.11 (${\ell }\ne {\ell }^{\prime} =e$, μ, τ) at 90% CL, respectively.     

Systematic Study on Alpha Decay Half-Lives of Superheavy Nuclei

The α-decay half-lives of a set of superheavy nuclear isotope chain from Z = 105 to 120 have been analyzed systematically within the WKB method, and some nuclear structure features are found. The decay barriers have been determined in the quasi-molecular shape path within the Generalized Liquid Drop Model （GLDM） including the proximity effects between nucleons in a neck and the mass and charge asymmetry. The results are in reasonable agreement with the published experimental data for the alpha decay half-llves of isotopes of charge 112, 114, and 116, of the element 294118 and of some decay products. A comparison of present calculations with the results by the DDM3Y effective interaction and by the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski （VSS） formulae is also made. The experimental a decay half lives all stand in between the GLDM calculations and VSS formula results. This demonstrates the possibility of these models to provide reasonable estimates for the half-lives of nuclear decays by a emissions for the domain of SHN. The half-lives of these new nuclei are thus well tested from the reasonable consistence of the macroscopic, the microscopic, the empirical formulae and the experimental data. This also shows that the present data of SHN themselves are consistent. It could suggest that the present experimental claims on the existence of new elements Z =110 - 118 are reliable. It is expected that greater deviations of a few SHN between the data and the model may be eliminated by further improvements on the precision of the measurements.     

Single top partner production in the tZ channel at eγ collision in the littlest Higgs model with T-parity

Introducing the top partner is a common way to cancel the largest quadratically divergent contribution to the Higgs mass induced by the top quark. In this work, we study single top partner production in the tZ channel at eγ collision in the littlest Higgs model with T-parity(LHT). Since it is well known that polarized beams can enhance the cross section, we analyze the signal via polarized electron beams,and photon beams. we have selected two decay modes for comparison, based on the leptonic or the hadronic decays of the W and Z from the top partner. We then construct a detailed detector simulation, and choose a set of cuts to enhance signal significance. For mode A(B), the capacity for exclusion in this process at s~(1/2)=3TeV is comparable to the current experimental limits with L=1000(500) fb~(-1). If the integrated luminosity can be increased to 3000 fb~(-1), the top partner mass+mTcan be excluded up to 1350(1440) GeV at 2σ level. We also considered the initial state radiation effect, and find that this effect reduces the excluding ability of the eγ collision on the the top partner mass by approximately 10 GeV. Moreover, the ability to exclude the LHT parameter space at eγ collision complements the existing research.     

Search for decay modes of heavy and superheavy nuclei

Spontaneous fission(SF) with a new formula based on a liquid drop model is proposed and used in the calculation of the SF half-lives of heavy and superheavy nuclei(Z = 90–120). The predicted half-lives are in agreement with the experimental SF half-lives. The half-lives of decay(AD) for the same nuclei are obtained by using the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin(WKB) method together with Bohr-Sommerfeld(BS) quantization condition considering the isospin-dependent effects for the cosh potential. The decay modes and branching ratios of superheavy nuclei(Z =104-118) with experimental decay modes are obtained, and the modes are compared with the experimental ones and with the predictions found in the literature. Although some nuclei have predicted decay modes that are different from their experimental decay modes, decay modes same as the experimental ones are predicted for many nuclei. The SF and AD half-lives, branching ratios, and decay modes are obtained for superheavy nuclei(Z = 119–120) with unknown decay modes and compared with the predictions obtained in a previous study. The present results provide useful information for future experimental studies performed on both the AD and SF of superheavy nuclei.     

Effects of shell correction on α decay properties

The shell correction effects on the α decay properties of heavy and superheavy nuclei have been studied in a macroscopic-microscopic manner. The macroscopic part is constructed from the generalized liquid drop model(GLDM), whereas the microscopic part, namely, the shell correction energy, brings about certain effects on the potential barriers and half-lives under a WKB approximation, which is emphasized in this work. The results show that the shell effects play a significant role in the estimation of the α decay half-lives within the actinide region.Predictions of the α decay half-lives are then generated for superheavy nuclei, which will provide useful information for future experiments.     

Magnetic dipole moments near Sn: Measurement on isomeric 11/2 states in odd-A Te and Te by NMR/ON

On-line low temperature nuclear orientation (OLNO) experiments have been performed on the odd-A Te isotopes ¹³¹Te and ¹³³Te using the technique of nuclear magnetic resonance on oriented nuclei (NMR/ON). The magnetic moments of the isomeric 11/2⁻ states have been measured extending the known data on these states in the Te isotopes up to the neutron shell closure at N = 82. The contribution to the 11/2⁻ magnetic moment in ¹³³Te due to core polarisation is calculated using an RPA shell model as well as corrections to the magnetic dipole operator caused by mesonic exchange currents. The neutron number dependence of the magnetic moments of the 11/2⁻ isomers in heavy Te isotopes is discussed in terms of particle-core coupling model (PCM) calculations.     

3S1–3D1 coupled channel ΛcN interactions:chiral effective field theory versus lattice QCD

We study the lattice QCD Λ_cN phase shifts for the ³S₁-³D₁ coupled channel using both the leading order covariant chiral effective theory and the next-to-leading order non-relativistic chiral effective field theory(ChEFT).We show that although it is possible to describe simultaneously the ³S₁ and ³D₁ phase shifts and the inelasticity η₁,the fitted energy range is quite small,only up to E<...     

Tighter monogamy relations of multiqubit entanglement in terms of Rényi-α entanglement

We explore the existence of monogamy relations in terms of Rényi-α entanglement. By using the power of the Rényi-α entanglement, we establish a class of tight monogamy relations of multiqubit entanglement with larger lower bounds than the existing monogamy relations for α≥2, the power η1, and 2α≥(7~(1/2)-1)/2, the power η2, respectively.     

Hiding neutrinoless double beta decay in the minimal seesaw model with the TM1 or μ–τ reflection symmetry

In Asaka et al (2021 Phys. Rev. D 103, 015014), Asaka, Ishida and Tanaka put forward an interesting possibility that the neutrinoless double beta decay can be hidden in the minimal seesaw model with the two right-handed neutrinos having a hierarchical mass structure: the lighter one is lighter enough than the typical Fermi-momentum scale of nuclei while the heavier one is sufficiently heavy to decouple from the neutrinoless double beta decay. Then, in the basis where the mass matrices of the charged leptons and right-handed neutrinos are diagonal, for some particular texture of the Dirac neutrino mass matrix ${M}_{{\rm{D}}}^{}$, the neutrinoless double beta decay can be hidden. In this paper, on top of this specified model, we study the interesting scenario that ${M}_{{\rm{D}}}^{}$ further obeys the TM1 symmetry or μ–τ reflection symmetry which are well motivated by the experimental results for the neutrino mixing parameters.