Deformation dependence of symmetry energy coefficients of nuclei

Based on the semi-classical Thomas-Fermi approximation together with the Skyrme energy-density functional, we study the deformation dependence of symmetry energy coefficients of finite nuclei. The symmetry energy coefficients of nuclei with mass number A = 40, 100, 150, 208 are extracted from two-parameter parabola fitting to the calculated energy per particle. We find that the symmetry energy coefficients decrease with the increase of nuclear quadrupole deformations, which is mainly due to the isospin dependence of the difference between the proton and neutron surface diffuseness. Large deformations of nuclei can cause the change of the symmetry energy coefficient by about 0.5 Me V and the influence of nuclear deformations on the symmetry energy coefficients is more evident for light and intermediate nuclei.     

Effect of Wigner energy on the symmetry energy coefficient in nuclei

The nuclear symmetry energy coefficient(including the coefficient a_(sym)~((4)) of the I~4 term) of finite nuclei is extracted by using the differences of available experimental binding energies of isobaric nuclei.It is found that the extracted symmetry energy coefficient a_(sym)~*(A,I) decreases with increasing isospin asymmetry I,which is mainly caused by Wigner correction,since e_(sym)~* is the summation of the traditional symmetry energy e_(sym) and the Wigner energy ew.We obtain the optimal values J = 30.25±0.10 MeV,a_(ss)=56.18±1.25 MeV,a_(sym)~((4)) = 8.33±1.21 MeV and the Wigner parameter x= 2.38 ±0.12 through a polynomial fit to 2240 measured binding energies for nuclei with20 ≤ A ≤ 261 with an rms deviation of 23.42 keV.We also find that the volume symmetry coefficient J■ 30 MeV is insensitive to the value x,whereas the surface symmetry coefficient a_(ss) and the coefficient a_(sym)~((4)) are very sensitive to the value of x in the range 1≤x≤4.The contribution of the a_(sym)~((4)) term increases rapidly with increasing isospin asymmetry I.For very neutron-rich nuclei,the contribution of the a_(sym)~((4)) term will play an important role.     

Nuclear binding energy and symmetry energy of nuclear matter with modern nucleon–nucleon potentials

The binding energy of nuclear matter at zero temperature in the Brueckner–Hartree–Fock approximation with modern nucleon–nucleon potentials is studied. Both the standard and continuous choices of single particle energies are used. These modern nucleon–nucleon potentials fit the deuteron properties and are phase shifts equivalent. Comparison with other calculations is made. In addition we present results for the symmetry energy obtained with different potentials, which is of great importance in astrophysical calculation.     

Constraints on the density dependence of the symmetry energy from heavy-ion collisions

Constraints on the equation of state (EoS) for symmetric matter (equal neutron and proton numbers) have been extracted from energetic collisions of heavy ions over a range of energies. Collisions of neutron-deficient and neutron-rich heavy ions now provide initial constraints on the EoS of neutron-rich matter at subsaturation densities from isospin diffusions and neutron proton ratios. This article reviews the experimental constraints on the density dependence of symmetry energy at subsaturation density.     

Analytical relations between nuclear symmetry energy and single-nucleon potentials in isospin asymmetric nuclear matter

Using the Hugenholtz-Van Hove theorem, we derive general expressions for the quadratic and quartic symmetry energies in terms of the isoscalar and isovector parts of single-nucleon potentials in isospin asymmetric nuclear matter. These expressions are useful for gaining deeper insights into the microscopic origins of the uncertainties in our knowledge on nuclear symmetry energies especially at supra-saturation densities. As examples, the formalism is applied to two model single-nucleon potentials that are widely used in transport model simulations of heavy-ion reactions.     

The symmetry energy in nuclei and in nuclear matter

We discuss to what extent information on ground-state properties of finite nuclei (energies and radii) can be used to obtain constraints on the symmetry energy in nuclear matter and its dependence on the density. The starting point is a generalized Weizs?cker formula for ground-state energies. In particular, effects from the Wigner energy and shell structure on the symmetry energy are investigated. Strong correlations in the parameter space prevent a clear isolation of the surface contribution. Use of neutron skin information improves the situation. The result of the analysis appears consistent with a rather soft density dependence of the symmetry energy in nuclear matter.     

Exploring nuclear symmetry energy with isospin dependence in neutron skin thickness of nuclei

We propose an alternative way to constrain the density dependence of the symmetry energy from the neutron skin thickness of nuclei which shows a linear relation to both the isospin asymmetry and the nuclear charge with a form of Z^2/3. The relation of the neutron skin thickness to the nuclear charge and isospin asymmetry is systematically studied with the data from antiprotonic atom measurement, and with the extended Thomas-Fermi approach incorporating the Skyrme energy density functional. An obviously linear relationship between the slope parameter L of the nuclear symmetry energy and the isospin asymmetry dependent parameter of the neutron skin thickness can be found, by adopting 70 Skyrme interactions in the calculations. Combining the available experimental data, the constraint of -20 MeV L 82 MeV on the slope parameter of the symmetry energy is obtained. The Skyrme interactions satisfying the constraint are selected.     

Probing the nuclear symmetry energy with heavy-ion reactions induced by neutron-rich nuclei

Heavy-ion reactions induced by neutron-rich nuclei provide a unique means to investigate the equation of state of isospin-asymmetric nuclear matter, especially the density dependence of the nuclear symmetry energy. In particular, recent analyses of the isospin diffusion data in heavy-ion reactions have already put a stringent constraint on the nuclear symmetry energy around the nuclear matter saturation density. We review this exciting result and discuss its implications on nuclear effective interactions and the neutron skin thickness of heavy nuclei. In addition, we also review the theoretical progress on probing the high density behaviors of the nuclear symmetry energy in heavy-ion reactions induced by high energy radioactive beams.      

The neutron/proton ratio of squeezed-out nucleons and the high density behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy

Within a transport model it is shown that the neutron/proton ratio of squeezed-out nucleons perpendicular to the reaction plane, especially at high transverse momenta, in heavy-ion reactions induced by high energy neutron-rich nuclei can be a useful tool for studying the high density behavior of the nuclear symmetry energy.     

Infinite nuclear matter model and a new mass formula for atomic nuclei

The ground-state energy of an atomic nucleus with asymmetryβ is considered to be equivalent to the energy of a perfect sphere made up of the infinite nuclear matter of the same asymmetry plus a residual energyη called the local energy,η represents the energy due to shell, deformation, diffuseness and exchange Coulomb effect etc. Using this picture and the generalized Hugenholtz- Van Hove theorem of many-body theory a new mass formula has been developed. Based on this, a mass table containing the mass excesses of 3481 nuclei in the range 18 ⩽A ⩽ 267 has been made. This mass formula is compared with other mass models.     

Collective octupole vibration and proton single-particle levels in zirconium nuclei

Self-energy correction to the shell model single-particle motion, arising from the excitation of octupole vibration in the intermediate state, accounts quite well for the energy shifts of the 2p _1/2 and 1g _9/2 proton orbits in zirconium nuclei.     

Equation of state and symmetry energy within the stability valley

We apply the direct variational method to derive the equation of state for finite nuclei within the stability valley. The extended Thomas-Fermi approximation for the energy functional with Skyrme forces is used. Applying the leptodermous expansion for the profile nucleon densities, we have studied the neutron coat and the isospin symmetry energy for neutron-rich nuclei. Using the equation of state for the pressure, we derive the region of spinodal instability of finite nuclei and its dependence on the mass number, the asymmetry parameter and the Skyrme force parameters. We suggest the procedure of derivation of the isospin symmetry energy from the analysis of the isospin shift of the chemical potential = - beyond the beta-stability line. We show that both the structure of the neutron coat and the position of the drip line depend significantly on the Skyrme force parameters.     

Search for spontaneous transition of nuclei to a superdense state

We report the results of an experimental search for spontaneous transition of nuclei from ordinary to superdense state in NaI(Tl). New limits on the superdense-state parameters are presented.     

Effects of the density dependence of the symmetry energy on neutron stars

In this paper,we include the density dependence behavior of the symmetry energy in the improved quark mass density dependent （IQMDD） model.Under the mean field approximation,this model is applied to investigate neutron star matter and neutron stars successfully.Effects of the density dependence of the symmetry energy on neutron stars are described.     

Effects of the density dependence of the symmetry energy on neutron stars

In this paper,we include the density dependence behavior of the symmetry energy in the improved quark mass density dependent (IQMDD) model.Under the mean field approximation,this model is applied to investigate neutron star matter and neutron stars successfully.Effects of the density dependence of the symmetry energy on neutron stars are described.     

Surface diffuseness of deformed and rotating nuclei

The surface diffuseness of deformed and rotating nuclei has been studied using the energy density formalism. It is shown that the surface diffuseness exhibits an anisotropy. This anisotropy in surface diffuseness can result in an anisotropic charged particle emission from highly spinning nuclei as has been seen in some recent experiments.     

Statistical theory of hot nuclei and high spin states

The hot rotating compound systems formed in heavy ion collisions are studied using the statistical theory with a view to determine the spin and temperature dependence of nuclear shapes. Shape transitions are observed for these systems at particular spin values. The neutron and proton separation energies for heavier high spin systems have been evaluated. Results are presented for ₇₀ ¹⁷⁰ Yb and ₇₈ ¹⁹⁴ Pt.     

The spin-isospin decomposition of the nuclear symmetry energy from low to high density

The energy per particle BA in nuclear matter is calculated up to high baryon density in the whole isospin asymmetry range from symmetric matter to pure neutron matter.The results,obtained in the framework of the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approximation with two-and three-body forces,confirm the well-known parabolic dependence on the asymmetry parameterβ=(N?Z)/A(β^2 law)that is valid in a wide density range.To investigate the extent to which this behavior can be traced back to the properties of the underlying interaction,aside from the mean field approximation,the spin-isospin decomposition of BA is performed.Theoretical indications suggest that theβ^2 law could be violated at higher densities as a consequence of the three-body forces.This raises the problem that the symmetry energy,calculated according to theβ^2 law as a difference between BA in pure neutron matter and symmetric nuclear matter,cannot be applied to neutron stars.One should return to the proper definition of the nuclear symmetry energy as a response of the nuclear system to small isospin imbalance from the Z=N nuclei and pure neutron matter.