Nonmesonic weak decay of Λ-hypernuclei within independent-particle shell-model

After a short introduction to the nonmesonic weak decay (NMWD) ΛN→nN of Λ-hypernuclei we discuss the long-standing puzzle on the ratio Γn/Γp, and some recent experimental evidences that signalized towards its final solution. Two versions of the Independent-Particle-Shell-Model (IPSM) are employed to account for the nuclear structure of the final residual nuclei. They are: (a) IPSM-a, where no correlation, except for the Pauli principle, is taken into account, and (b) IPSM-b, where the highly excited hole states are considered to be quasi-stationary and are described by Breit-Wigner distributions, whose widths are estimated from the experimental data. We evaluate the coincidence spectra in Λ 4He, Λ 5He, Λ 12C, Λ 16O, and Λ 28Si, as a function of the sum of kinetic energies EnN=En+EN for N=n, p. The recent Brookhaven National Laboratory experiment E788 on Λ 4He, is interpreted within the IPSM. We found that the shapes of all the spectra are basically tailored by the kinematics of the corresponding phase space, depending very weakly on the dynamics, which is gauged here by the one-meson-exchange- potential. In spite of the straightforwardness of the approach a good agreement with data is achieved. This might be an indication that the final-state- interactions and the two-nucleon induced processes are not very important in the decay of this hypernucleus. We have also found that the π+K exchange potential with soft vertex-form-factor cutoffs (Λπ≈0. 7GeV, ΛK≈0.9GeV), is able to account simultaneously for the available experimental data related to Γp and Γn for Λ 4H, and Λ 5He. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Classification of states in S0(8) proton-neutron pairing model

lsoscalar (T = 0) plus isovector (T = 1) pairing Hamiltonian in LS-coupling. which is important for heavy N = Z nuclei, is solvable in terms of a SO(8) Lie algebra for three special values of the mixing parameter that measures the competition between the T = 0 aid T = 1 pairing. The SO(8) algebra is generated, amongst others, by the S = 1, T = 0 and S = 0, T = 1 pair creation and annihilation operators and corresponding to the three values of the mixing parameter, there are three chains of subalgebras: SO(8) superset of SOST (6) superset of SOS(3) circle times SOT(3), SO(8) superset of [SOS(5) superset of SOS(3)] circle times SOT(3) and SO(8) superset of [SOT(5) superset of SOT(3)] circle times SOS(3). Shell model Lie algebras, with only particle number conserving generators, that are complementary to these three chains of subalgebras are identified and they are used in the classification of states for a given number of nucleons. The classification problem is solved explicitly tor states with SO(8) seniority nu = 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Using them, hand structures in isospin space are identified for states with nu = 0, 1, 2 and 3. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Are large-scale distributional shifts of the blue-winged macaw (Primolius maracana) related to climate change?

Aim To evaluate whether observed geographical shifts in the distribution of the blue-winged macaw (Primolius maracana) are related to ongoing processes of global climate change. This species is vulnerable to extinction and has shown striking range retractions in recent decades, withdrawing broadly from southern portions of its historical distribution. Its range reduction has generally been attributed to the effects of habitat loss; however, as this species has also disappeared from large forested areas, consideration of other factors that may act in concert is merited.Location Historical distribution of the blue-winged macaw in Brazil, eastern Paraguay and northern Argentina.Methods We used a correlative approach to test a hypothesis of causation of observed shifts by reduction of habitable areas mediated by climate change. We developed models of the ecological niche requirements of the blue-winged macaw, based on point-occurrence data and climate scenarios for pre-1950 and post-1950 periods, and tested model predictivity for anticipating geographical distributions within time periods. Then we projected each model to the other time period and compared distributions predicted under both climate scenarios to assess shifts of habitable areas across decades and to evaluate an explanation for observed range retractions.Results Differences between predicted distributions of the blue-winged macaw over the twentieth century were, in general, minor and no change in suitability of landscapes was predicted across large areas of the species' original range in different time periods. No tendency towards range retraction in the south was predicted, rather conditions in the southern part of the species' range tended to show improvement for the species.Main conclusions Our test permitted elimination of climate change as a likely explanation for the observed shifts in the distribution of the blue-winged macaw, and points rather to other causal explanations (e.g. changing regional land use, emerging diseases).

s-wave approximation for asymmetry in nonmesonic decay of finite hypernuclei

We establish the bridge between the commonly used Nabetani-Ogaito-Sato-Kishimoto (NOSK) formula for the asymmetry parameter a(Lambda) in the Lambda p -> np emission of polarized hypernuclei, and the shell-model (SM) formalism for finite hypernuclei. We demonstrate that the s-wave approximation leads to a SM formula for a(Lambda) that is as simple as the NOSK one and that reproduces the exact results for (5)(Lambda)He and (12)(Lambda)C better than initially expected. The simplicity achieved here is indeed remarkable. The new formalism makes the theoretical evaluation of a(Lambda) more transparent and explains clearly why the one-meson exchange model is unable to account for the experimental data of (5)(Lambda)He.

Transition amplitudes for the nonmesonic hypernuclear decay

We give general expressions for the two-body decomposition of the transition amplitudes for the nonmesonic decay of Lambda-hypernuclei within a finite-nucleus shell-model approach.

Effective theory for trapped few-fermion systems

We apply the general principles of effective field theories to the construction of effective interactions suitable for few- and many-body calculations in a no-core shell model framework. We calculate the spectrum of systems with three and four two-component fermions in a harmonic trap. In the unitary limit, we find that three-particle results are within 10% of known semianalytical values even in small model spaces. The method is very general, and can be readily extended to other regimes, more particles, different species (e.g., protons and neutrons in nuclear physics), or more-component fermions (as well as bosons). As an illustration, we present calculations of the lowest-energy three-fermion states away from the unitary limit and find a possible inversion of parity in the ground state in the limit of trap size large compared to the scattering length. Furthermore, we investigate the lowest positive-parity states for four fermions, although we are limited by the dimensions we can currently handle in this case.

Nonmesonic weak decay spectra of He-4(Lambda)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Weak nonmesonic decay spectra of hypernuclei

We compute one- and two-nucleon kinetic-energy spectra and opening-angle distributions for the nonmesonic weak decay of several hypernuclei, and compare our results with some recent data. The decay dynamics is described by transition potentials of the one-meson-exchange type, and the nuclear structure aspects by two versions of the independent-particle shell model (IPSM). In version IPSM-a, the bole states are treated as stationary, while in version IPSM-b the deep-hole ones are considered to be quasi-stationary and are described by Breit-Wigner distributions.

Kinetic energy sum spectra in nonmesonic weak decay of hypernuclei

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Asymmetry parameter for nonmesonic hypernuclear decay

We give general expressions for the vector asymmetry in the angular distribution of protons in the nonmesonic weak decay of polarized hypernuclei. From these we derive an explicit expression for the calculation of the asymmetry parameter, a(Lambda), which is applicable to the specific cases of He-5(Lambda) and C-12(Lambda) described within the extreme shell model. In contrast to the approximate formula widely used in the literature, it includes the effects of three-body kinematics in the final states of the decay and correctly treats the contribution of transitions originating from single-proton states beyond the s-shell. This expression is then used for the corresponding numerical computation of a(Lambda) within several one-meson-exchange models. Besides the strictly local approximation usually adopted for the transition potential, we also consider the addition of the first-order nonlocality terms. We find values for a(Lambda) ranging from -0.62 to -0.24, in qualitative agreement with other theoretical estimates but in contradiction with some recent experimental determinations.

Local order around of germanium atoms in Ga10Ge25S65 glass by EXAFS

Irreversible photoexpansion effect has been observed in amorphous Ga10Ge2S65 glasses when its surface was exposed to light with energy greater than the band gap, 3.52 eV. A volume change of about 5% was reached in bulk samples by controlling illumination time and the laser power density. To understand the atomic scale processes of the photoexpansion effect, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy has been used as a local probe of the germanium environment in the glass samples before and after illumination. Modifications are observed in the average coordination shell around Ge atoms in the illuminated sample compared to the non-illuminated one. For the non-illuminated sample, the Ge coordination shell is described by a distorted tetrahedron of sulfur atoms at around 2.20 Angstrom. After illumination, the EXAFS signal can be explained by introducing an additional contribution to this average environment. Based on an analysis of the EXAFS data we proposed a two-shell model of 0.5 oxygen atoms at 2.01 Angstrom and 3.6 sulfur atoms at a 2.20 Angstrom. The existence of Ge-O bonds in the glass after illumination was confirmed by infrared measurements. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Local order around tungsten atoms in tungstate fluorophosphate glasses by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to study the local environment of tungsten atoms in NaPO3-BaF2,-WO3 glasses and the results were compared with crystalline references Na2WO4 and WO3. XANES measurements at the W-L-1 edge allowed to determine a distorted octahedral environment of tungsten atoms in these glasses similar to the local order of tungsten in monoclinic WO3. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) has been used as a local probe to monitor the effect of WO3 concentration on the tungsten environment. Based on an analysis of the EXAFS data, we proposed a three-shell model of oxygen atoms around tungsten as in monoclinic WO3. With increasing WO3 concentration, it was found that R-2 decreases from 1.96 to 1.92 angstrom whereas R-3 increases from 2.07 to 2.12 angstrom. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The influence of oxygen in the photoexpansion of GaGeS glasses

Irreversible photoexpansion and photobleaching effect has been observed in amorphous Ga10Ge25S65 glass when its surface was exposed to light with energy greater than the band gap, 3.52 eV. The magnitude of the expansion of GaGeS glasses depends on the exposure conditions. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) have been used to identify the chemical nature of the glass samples before and after illumination. The quantitative analysis of the EXAFS data leads to a two-shell model of 0.5 oxygen atoms at 2.01 Angstrom and 3.6 sulfur atoms at a 2.20 Angstrom. RBS technique demonstrated that chemical composition of the glass surface after irradiation is oxygen rich. The existence of Ge-O bonds in the glass after illumination was also confirmed by infrared measurements. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Simple analytical expression for vector hypernuclear asymmetry in nonmesonic decay ofΛ 5He andΛ 12C

We present general explicit expressions for a shell-model calculation of the vector hypernuclear parameter in nonmesonic weak decay. We use a widely accepted effective coupling Hamiltonian involving the exchange of the complete pseudoscalar and vector meson octets (π, η, K, ρ, ω, K*). In contrast to the approximated formula widely used in the literature, we correctly treat the contribution of transitions originated from single-proton states beyond the s-shell. Exact and simple analytical expressions are obtained for the particular cases of Λ 5He and Λ 12C, within the one-pion-exchange model. Numerical computations of the asymmetry parameter, aΛ, are presented. Our results show a qualitative agreement with other theoretical estimates but also a contradiction with recent experimental determinations. Our simple analytical formulas provide a guide in searching the origin of such discrepancies, and they will be useful for helping to solve the hypernuclear weak decay puzzle.

Dynamics of hypernuclear nonmesonic weak decay

Simple and coincidence spectra of the NM weak decay of light hypernuclei have been evaluated in a systematic way for the first time. We have only considered 1N induced processes, neglecting entirely the events induced by 2N emission, as well as the effects of the FSIt's. As the theoretical frameworkwe have used the IPSM with three different parametrizations for the transition potential. The comparison with data strongly suggests that the soft π + K exchange model could be a good starting point to describe the dynamics in the NM weak decays of s- and p-shell hypernuclei. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.