Determining pion source parameters in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Two-pion inclusive spectra from relativistic heavy-ion collisions are related to single-particle inclusive measurements in a Lorentz-invariant formulation of the Hanbury-Brown-Twiss effect. A thermal pion source with a gaussian space-time distribution is assumed. The angular anisotropy and moments of the correlation function are computed to facilitate the determination of pion source parameters from the ratios of the two-pion to single-pion inclusive data.     

Path integral Monte Carlo calculations of4He and6Li

We have performed Monte Carlo calculations to estimate the exact energies of model problems for⁴He and theL=0,1, and 2 states of⁶Li. Using a Feynman path-integral expression for the imaginary-time evolution operator, we recast the ground state energy as a sum over histories, which are then sampled stochastically. Use of a trial wave function dramatically improves the efficiency of the Monte Carlo method. For a state-independent Malfliet-Tjon potential, together with the Coulomb interaction, we find a ground state energy of ?28.00+0.20 MeV for⁴He, and a degeneracy of theL=0,1, and 2 states in⁶Li at about ?59.65+-0.50 MeV. Density distributions for these nuclei are also calculated.     

Guided random walks for solving Hamiltonian lattice gauge theories

Motivated by developments for many-particle quantum systems, a Monte Carlo method for solving Hamiltonian lattice gauge theories without fermions is presented in which a stochastic random walk is guided by a trial wave function. To the extent that a substantial portion of the local structure of the theory can be incorporated in the trial function, the method offers significant advantages relative to existing techniques. The method is applicable to the study of SU(N) lattice gauge theories, and its utility is demonstrated by solving the compact U(1) gauge theory in three spatial dimensions.     

Phase transition from a4He plasma to stable8Be matter

We show that a⁴He quantum fluid will undergo a phase transition to stable⁸Be matter at densities 2×10⁹10⁹g/cm³. Our argumentation is qualitatively supported by an optimal hypernetted chain calculation of the helium fluid including nuclear forces.     

Shape transition in the neutron rich sodium isotopes

Mass spectrometer measurements of the neutron rich sodium isotopes show a sudden increase at ³¹Na in the values of the two-neutron separation energies. The spherical shell model naturally predicts a sudden decrease at ³²Na after the N = 20 shell closure. We propose that the explanation for this disagreement lies in the fact that sodium isotopes in this mass region are strongly deformed due to the filling of negative parity orbitais from the 1f_{$\text{7}\text{2}$} shell. Hartree-Fock calculations are presented in support of this conjecture.