On bound state computations in three- and four-electron atomic systems

A variational approach is developed for bound state calculations in three- and four-electron atomic systems. This approach can be applied to determine, in principle, an arbitrary bound state in three- and four-electron ions and atoms. Our variational wave functions are constructed from four- and five-body Gaussoids that respectively depend on six (r ₁₂, r ₁₃, r ₁₄, r ₂₃, r ₂₄, r ₃₄) and ten (r ₁₂, r ₁₃, r ₁₄, r ₁₅, r ₂₃, r ₂₄, r ₂₅, r ₃₄, r ₃₅ and r ₄₅) relative coordinates. The approach allows operating with the more than one electron spin functions. In particular, the trial wave functions for the ¹ S states in four-electron atomic systems include the two independent spin functions χ₁ = αβαβ + βαβα − βααβ − αββα and χ₂ = 2ααββ + 2ββαα − βααβ − αββα − βαβα − αβαβ. We also discuss the construction of variational wave functions for the excited 2³ S states in four- electron atomic systems.     

Bound state nature of the exotic Z<Subscript>b</Subscript> states

The assumption that the newly observed charged bottomonia states Z _b(10610) and Z _b(10650) are of molecular nature is confronted with the measured invariant-mass distributions for the transitions of the ϒ(5S) to the final states h _b π ⁺ π ⁻ and h _b(2P)π ⁺ π ⁻. It is shown that the assumption that the Z _b(10610) and Z _b(10650) are B [`(B)]*\bar B* + c.c. and B <sup>*</sup> [`(B)]*\bar B* bound states, respectively, with very small binding energies is consistent with the data. The calculation is based on a power counting for bottom meson loops, which is explicitly given up to two-loop in the framework of a nonrelativistic effective-field theory. We also show that if the Z_b states are of molecular nature, then the data should not be analyzed by using a Breit-Wigner parametrization.     

Electromagnetic polarizabilities of the nucleon and properties of the σ-meson pole contribution

The t-channel contribution to the difference of electromagnetic polarizabilities of the nucleon, (α - β)^t, can be quantitatively understood in terms of a σ-meson pole in the complex t-plane of the invariant scattering amplitude A ₁(s, t) with properties of the σ-meson as given by the quark-level Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model (NJL). Equivalently, this quantity may be understood in terms of a cut in the complex t-plane where the properties of the σ-meson are taken from the ππ → σ → ππ, γγ → σ → ππ and Nˉ → σ → ππ reactions. This equivalence may be understood as a sum rule where the properties of the σ-meson as predicted by the NJL model are related to the f ₀(600) particle observed in the three reactions. In the following, we describe details of the derivation of (α - β)^t making use of predictions of the quark-level NJL model for the σ-meson mass. An erratum to this article is available at .     

A study of 223Ra populated by α-decay

The low spin states of ²²³Ra have been populated via α-decay from ²²⁷Th which was itself produced following β⁻ decay of an ²²⁷Ac source. α–γ and α−e _K,L,M angular correlation measurements have been analysed using the correct ground state spins of ²²⁷Th(=1/2⁺) and ²²³Ra(=3/2⁺) for the first time. The analysis has allowed unique J^π values to be assigned to almost all levels below 400 keV excitation in ²²³Ra. Values of (g _K−g _R)/Q ₀ have been deduced for several members of the K= 3/2^± bands (for the first time in an odd N nucleus in this mass region) allowing estimates of g _K and g _R to be extracted. The values of g _K and g _R are not significantly different for the positive and negative parity band members and tend to support other strong evidence that stable octupole deformation exists in ²²³Ra at low excitation energies. Received: 17 November 1997 / Revised version: 8 January 1998     

Ground State and Charge Renormalization in a Nonlinear Model of Relativistic Atoms

We study the reduced Bogoliubov-Dirac-Fock (BDF) energy which allows to describe relativistic electrons interacting with the Dirac sea, in an external electrostatic potential. The model can be seen as a mean-field approximation of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) where photons and the so-called exchange term are neglected. A state of the system is described by its one-body density matrix, an infinite rank self-adjoint operator which is a compact perturbation of the negative spectral projector of the free Dirac operator (the Dirac sea). We study the minimization of the reduced BDF energy under a charge constraint. We prove the existence of minimizers for a large range of values of the charge, and any positive value of the coupling constant α. Our result covers neutral and positively charged molecules, provided that the positive charge is not large enough to create electron-positron pairs. We also prove that the density of any minimizer is an L ¹ function and compute the effective charge of the system, recovering the usual renormalization of charge: the physical coupling constant is related to α by the formula α_phys ≃ α(1 + 2α/(3π) log Λ)⁻¹, where Λ is the ultraviolet cut-off. We eventually prove an estimate on the highest number of electrons which can be bound by a nucleus of charge Z. In the nonrelativistic limit, we obtain that this number is  ≤  2Z, recovering a result of Lieb. This work is based on a series of papers by Hainzl, Lewin, Séré and Solovej on the mean-field approximation of no-photon QED.     

Microscopic study of low-lying yrast spectra in <Superscript>100–108</Superscript>Mo isotopes

Variation-after-projection (VAP) calculations in conjunction with Hartree-Bogoliubov (HB) ansatz have been carried out for A=100−108 molybdenum (Mo) isotopes. In this framework, the yrast spectra with J _max ^π ≥10⁺, B(E2) transition probabilities, quadrupole (β₂) and hexadecapole (β₄) deformation parameters, moment of inertia (I) and square of cranking frequency (ω²) for even-even Mo isotopes have been obtained. The results of the calculation give an indication that it is important to include the hexadecapole-hexadecapole component of the two-body interaction for obtaining various nuclear structure quantities in these Mo isotopes.     

Vacuum Nodes and Anomalies in Quantum Theories

We show that nodal points of ground states of some quantum systems with magnetic interactions can be identified in simple geometric terms. We analyse in detail two different archetypical systems: i) the planar rotor with a non-trivial magnetic flux Φ and ii) the Hall effect on a torus. In the case of the planar rotor we show that the level repulsion generated by any reflection invariant potential V is encoded in the nodal structure of the unique vacuum for θ=π. In the second case we prove that the nodes of the first Landau level for unit magnetic charge appear at the crossing of the two non-contractible circles α₋, β₋ with holonomies h _α-(A)=h _β-(A)=−1 for any reflection invariant potential V. This property illustrates the geometric origin of the quantum translation anomaly. Received: 6 April 1999 / Accepted: 21 October 2000     

Scott Correction for Large Atoms and Molecules in a Self-Generated Magnetic Field

We consider a large neutral molecule with total nuclear charge Z in non-relativistic quantum mechanics with a self-generated classical electromagnetic field. To ensure stability, we assume that Z α ² ≤ κ ₀ for a sufficiently small κ ₀, where α denotes the fine structure constant. We show that, in the simultaneous limit Z → ∞, α → 0 such that κ = Z α ² is fixed, the ground state energy of the system is given by a two term expansion c ₁ Z ^7/3 + c ₂(κ) Z ² + o(Z ²). The leading term is given by the non-magnetic Thomas-Fermi theory. Our result shows that the magnetic field affects only the second (so-called Scott) term in the expansion.     

High-spin states of<Superscript>125</Superscript>Sb: Particle-core excitation coupling

Excited states of¹²⁵Sb have been studied using in-beam γ spectroscopy techniques via the¹²⁴Sn(⁷Li, α2n) reaction at a beam energy of 32 MeV. A high-spin level scheme including 21 new γ-transitions and 14 new excited states have been established. Three isomers have been identified at 1970, 2110 and 2471 keV and the ranges of their half-lives have been estimated from the delayed coincidence data. The level structure of¹²⁵Sb is discussed in terms of particle-core excitation coupling. With the help of empirical shell model calculations the three isomers are proposed to have three-quasiparticle πg_7/2⊗v(h _11/2 s _1/2)₅₋, πg_7/2⊗v(h _11/2 d _3/2)₇₋ and πg_7/2⊗v(h ₁₁^2/2)₁₀ ⁺ configurations, respectively.     

Properties of the πη,$ \eta{^\prime}$,σ, f0(980) and a0(980) mesons and their relevance for the polarizabilities of the nucleon

The signs and values of the two-photon couplings F _Mγγ of mesons (M) and their couplings g_MNN to the nucleon as entering into the t -channel parts of the difference of the electromagnetic polarizabilities (α - β) and the backward angle spin polarizabilities γ_π are determined. The excellent agreement achieved with the experimental polarizabilities of the proton makes it possible to make reliable predictions for the neutron. The results obtained are α_n = 13.4±1.0 , β_n = 1.8±1.0 (10^-4fm^3), and γ⁽ⁿ⁾ _π = 57.6±1.8 (10^-4fm^4). New empirical information on the flavor wave functions of the f ₀(980) - and the a ₀(980) -meson is obtained.     

Progress in pion-decay channelling: Refractory bcc metals at high and low temperatures

By means of π⁺/μ⁺ channelling, positive pions (π⁺) implanted intoTa, Mo, andW are investigated up to high temperatures. A striking observation is that the channelling effect disappears in a rather narrow temperature interval centred at 0.26 (Ta) to 0.51 (W) of the melting temperature. From studies of π⁺ trapping by oxygen atoms inTa estimates for the low-temperature π⁺ diffusivity inTa [D _π(23K)=1.4·10^−10±0.3 m²s⁻¹,D _π(47K)=5.7·10^−10±0.3 m²s⁻¹] as well as for the binding enthalpy of π⁺ to 0 atoms (H _B=7·10⁻² eV) have been obtained. The diffusion data are in reasonable agreement with the theory of phonon-assisted tunnelling.     

Process πp → ππN at high energies and moderate momenta transferred to the nucleon and the determination of parameters of the f0(980) and f0(1300)

We present the results of simultaneous analysis of the S-wave ππ spectra in the reactions π ⁻ p → (ππ)_S n at p _lab=38 GeV/c (GAMS) and π ⁻ p → (ππ)_S n at p _lab=18 GeV/c (E852 Collaboration) at moderate momenta transferred to the nucleon, |t| ≲ 1.5 (GeV/c)². The t distributions are described by the Reggeized π and a ₁ exchanges provided by the leading and daughter trajectories, while the M _ππ spectra are determined by a set of scalar-isoscalar resonances. With M _ππ distributions averaged over different t intervals, we have found several solutions given by different t-channel-exchange mechanisms at |t| ∼ (0.5–1.5) (GeV/c)², with resonance parameters close to each other. We conclude that, despite a poor knowledge of the structure of the t exchange, the characteristics of resonances such as masses and widths can be reliably determined using the processes under discussion. As to pole positions, we have found (1031±10)−i(35±6) MeV for f ₀(980) and (1315±20)−i(150±30) MeV for f ₀(1300). From Yadernaya Fizika, Vol. 66, No. 5, 2003, pp. 960–972. Original English Text Copyright ? 2003 by Anisovich, Sarantsev. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

On the limit of nuclear stability — The region of double magic100Sn and bound-state β-decay of187Re75+

Experiments which led to the discovery of the heaviest, self-conjugated double magic nucleus¹⁰⁰Sn and the bound-state β-decay of completely ionized¹⁸⁷Re are presented.¹⁰⁰Sn was produced by fragmentation of 1.1 A GeV¹²⁴Xe beams, separated and implanted in a 4π Si-stack detector. From its decay a half-lifeT _1/2=0.94(+0.54, −0.27) s and a β⁺ endpoint energy ofE _β=3.4(+0.7, −0.3) MeV were determined for the 0⁺−1⁺ Gamov-Teller transition. Completely stripped¹⁸⁷Re⁷⁵⁺ was produced and stored in a coolerring with an energy of 351 A MeV for several hours. The products of bound-state β-decay of¹⁸⁷Re⁷⁵⁺ were detected by two independent methods, which allowed to determine a half-life ofT _1/2=33±6 y for this decay, which is of importance for the calibration of the Re/Os nucleosynthesis chronometer.     

Molecular-orbital structure in neutron-rich Be and C isotopes

The structure of Be and C isotopes are investigated based on the molecular-orbit (MO) model. The low-lying states are characterized by several configurations of valence neutrons, which are constructed as combinations of basic orbits. In ¹⁰Be, all of the observed positive-parity bands and the negative-parity bands are described within the model. The second 0⁺ state of ¹⁰Be has a large α-α cluster structure, and this is characterized by a (1/2⁺ _σ)² configuration. An enlargement of the α-α distance due to two-valence neutrons along the α-α axis makes their wave function smooth and reduces the kinetic energy drastically. Furthermore, the contribution of the spin-orbit interaction due to coupling between the S _z = 0 and the S _z = 1 configurations, is important. In the ground state of ¹²Be, the calculated energy exhibits similar characteristics, that the remarkable α clustering and the contribution of the spin-orbit interaction make the binding of the state with (3/2^- _π)²(1/2⁺ _σ)² configuration properly stronger in comparison with the closed p-shell (3/2^- _π)²(1/2^- _π)² configuration. This is related to the breaking of the N = 8 (closed p-shell) neutron magic number. Also, the molecule-like structure of the C isotopes is investigated using a microscopic α+α+α+n+n+ ^{. . .} model. The combination of the valence neutrons in the π- and the σ-orbit is promising to stabilize the linear-chain state against the breathing and bending modes, and it is found that the excited states of ¹⁶C are the most promising candidates for such structure. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

An exactly solvable linear model giving indication of stochastic resonance

The linear stochastic equation dx _β /dt+[1+f _β (t)]x _β (t)=A sin (Ωt) is discussed. The functionƒ _β (t) is defined as a Poissonian noise dependent on a parameterβ>0,ƒ _β (t)=β Σ _j [δ(t − t _j ⁺ ) −δ (t − t _j ⁻ )]. The mean frequency of the delta-pulses is chosen asβ-dependent in the formλ(β)=2γ(β ⁻² + 1) exp(−β) whereγ is a constant from the interval (0, 0.974). With the stochastic functionƒ _β (t) defined in this way, attention is paid on the oscillational term of the averaged function 〈x(t)〉, 〈x(t)〉_osc=Āsin(Ωt − α). It is found that the dependenceĀ=Ā(β) exhibits one maximum and one minimum. The occurrence of these extrema seems to affirm the presence of stochastic resonance. This work has been supported by the Slovak Grant Agency VEGA under contract No. 1/4319/97.     

Relativistic correction to the dipole polarizability of a hydrogenic ion

The first relativistic correction of orderα ² to the dipole polarizability of a hydrogenic ion has been investigated by using mean excitation energy of the ion within the second-order perturbation theory. The density-dependent mean excitation energy is estimated via Bethe theory for the stopping cross section for a moving point charge interacting with the hydrogenic ion. In this approach only the unperturbed Dirac wavefunctions are required to evaluate the appropriate matrix elements. The first relativistic correction turns out to be − (13/12)(αZ)². This has the correct sign and is within 5% of the exact result which is −(28/27)(αZ)².     

Mass absorption coefficients and range of beta particles in Be,Al, Cu,Ag and Pb

It is demonstrated that the practical range of a beta spectrum (E _max=E) in any material can be obtained from mass absorption coefficient (μ/ρ) values. It is further shown that a semiempirical relation likeμ/ρ =AE ^−B in whichA andB are related to the atomic numberZ, of the absorber can be used for determiningμ/ρ of any material of known atomic numberZ. Theβ particle ranges are compared with theoreticalcsda and practical ranges from literature.     

Confrontation of nucleus deformation and multipole mixture parameters in (2+0 n ?2+01) transitions with rotational band structure for K π = 0 2+ and 0 3+

The difference of the energies of levels Δ _n = E _lev(2⁺0 _n ) − E _lev(0⁺0 _n ) at n = 1, 2, and 3 and the multipole-mixture parameter δ for (2⁺0₂−2⁺0₁) and (2⁺0₃−2⁺0₁) transitions are contrasted against the structure of the K ^π = 0₂⁺ and 0₃⁺ rotational bands that was calculated on the basis of the quasiparticle-phonon model. The values of (Δ₂ − Δ₁), (Δ₃ − Δ₁), and (Δ₂ − Δ₃) are found to correlate with the sign of the parameter δ and with the calculated structure of the K ^π = 0₂⁺ and 0₃⁺ bands. Original Russian Text ? A.M. Demidov, L.I. Govor, V.A. Kurkin, I.V. Mikhailov, 2009, published in Yadernaya Fizika, 2009, Vol. 72, No. 2, pp. 236–240.     

Emission of light nuclei (<Emphasis Type="Italic">p,d, t</Emphasis>, α) in the process of annihilation of slow antiprotons in nuclear emulsion

The annihilation of slow (∼7 MeV) antiprotons in nuclear emulsion has been studied. The yields and energy spectra of p, d, t, and α particles in the evaporation region have been measured. The shape of the spectra of p, d, and t is in agreement with the Maxwell distribution and the excitation energy of a nucleus is consistent with a theoretical estimate for evaporation from the equilibrium state. The probability of the absorption of antiprotons inside the nucleus estimated from the multiplicity of h particles is ɛ = (2.0 ± 0.6) × 10⁻². The relative d/p yield coincides with a similar ratio appearing in the capture of slow π⁻ mesons by nuclei in the nuclear emulsion. The yields of t and α particles in the process of the annihilation of antiprotons are much higher than those in a similar process for pions. To identify g particles (0.29 < β < 0.70), energy losses dE/dx on ionization and multiple scattering have been measured. In this velocity region, the yields of p, d, t, and pions have been observed. The ratios (n _d /n _p ) _g , (n _d /n _p ) _b , and n _d /n _p measured in the capture of π⁻ mesons are almost the same. In this velocity range (g particles), α particles have not been observed.