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Evolution of shell structure in neutron-rich calcium isotopes
G Hagen1, M Hjorth-Jensen, G R Jansen
1Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|August 7, 2012
Summary
We calculated calcium isotope properties using chiral effective field theory and coupled-cluster methods. Results show good agreement with data and predict a weak subshell closure in Calcium-54.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear physics
- Quantum chemistry
Background:
- Calcium isotopes exhibit complex nuclear structures.
- Understanding nuclear forces is crucial for predicting isotope properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compute binding energies and low-lying excitations of calcium isotopes.
- To investigate the effects of three-nucleon forces and continuum coupling.
Main Methods:
- Coupled-cluster method with chiral effective field theory interactions.
- Phenomenological inclusion of three-nucleon forces.
- Berggren basis for continuum coupling.
Main Results:
- Accurate computation of ground-state energies for Ca isotopes (42,48,50,52).
- Good agreement with experimental data for low-lying J(π) = 2+ states.
- Prediction of the first J(π) = 2+ state in 54Ca at 1.9 MeV, indicating a weak subshell closure.
- Observed strong deviations from the naive shell model in odd-mass calcium nuclei (53,55,61).
Conclusions:
- The coupled-cluster method accurately describes calcium isotopes.
- Three-nucleon forces and continuum coupling are essential for precise nuclear structure calculations.
- Predictions provide insights into nuclear shell structure and deviations in odd-mass nuclei.
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