Nuclear state densities of odd-mass heavy nuclei in the shell model Monte Carlo approach

C. Özen, Y. Alhassid, and H. Nakada
Phys. Rev. C 91, 034329 – Published 26 March 2015

Abstract

The shell model Monte Carlo (SMMC) approach enables the microscopic calculation of nuclear state densities in model spaces that are many orders of magnitude larger than those that can be treated by conventional diagonalization techniques. However, it has been difficult to calculate accurate state densities of odd-mass heavy nuclei as a function of excitation energy. This is because of a sign problem that arises from the projection on an odd number of particles at low temperatures, making it difficult to calculate accurate ground-state energies of odd-mass nuclei in direct Monte Carlo calculations. Here we extract the ground-state energy from a one-parameter fit of the SMMC thermal energy to the thermal energy that is determined from experimental data. This enables us to calculate the state densities of the odd-even isotopes Sm149155 and Nd143149 as a function of excitation energy. We find close agreement with state densities extracted from experimental data. Our results demonstrate that the state densities of the odd-mass samarium and neodymium isotopes can be consistently reproduced using the same family of Hamiltonians that describe the neighboring even-mass isotopes within the configuration-interaction shell model approach.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 29 May 2014
  • Revised 9 December 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.91.034329

©2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

C. Özen1,2, Y. Alhassid1, and H. Nakada3

  • 1Center for Theoretical Physics, Sloane Physics Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
  • 2Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Kadir Has University, Istanbul 34083, Turkey
  • 3Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Inage, Chiba 263-8522, Japan

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 91, Iss. 3 — March 2015

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review C

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×