• Multidimensionally-constrained relativistic mean-field study of triple-humped barriers in actinides

    分类: 物理学 >> 核物理学 提交时间: 2017-07-30

    摘要: Background: Potential energy surfaces (PES’s) of actinide nuclei are characterized by a two-humped barrier structure. At large deformations beyond the second barrier the occurrence of a third one was predicted by macroscopic-microscopic model calculations in the 1970s, but contradictory results were later reported by number of studies that used different methods. Purpose: Triple-humped barriers in actinide nuclei are investigated in the framework of covariant density func- tional theory (CDFT). Methods: Calculations are performed using the multidimensionally-constrained relativistic mean field (MDC- RMF) model, with the nonlinear point-coupling functional PC-PK1 and the density-dependent meson exchange functional DD-ME2 in the particle-hole channel. Pairing correlations are treated in the BCS approximation with a separable pairing force of finite range. Results: Two-dimensional PES’s of 226,228,230,232Th and 232,234,236,238U are mapped and the third minima on these surfaces are located. Then one-dimensional potential energy curves along the fission path are analyzed in detail and the energies of the second barrier, the third minimum, and the third barrier are determined. The functional DD-ME2 predicts the occurrence of a third barrier in all Th nuclei and 238U. The third minima in 230,232Th are very shallow, whereas those in 226,228Th and 238U are quite prominent. With the functional PC- PK1 a third barrier is found only in 226,228,230 Th. Single-nucleon levels around the Fermi surface are analyzed in 226Th, and it is found that the formation of the third minimum is mainly due to the Z = 90 proton energy gap at β20 ≈ 1.5 and β30 ≈ 0.7. Conclusions: The possible occurrence of a third barrier on the PES’s of actinide nuclei depends on the effective interaction used in multidimensional CDFT calculations. More pronounced minima are predicted by the DD-ME2 functional, as compared to the functional PC-PK1. The depth of the third well in Th isotopes decreases with increasing neutron number. The origin of the third minimum is due to the proton Z = 90 shell gap at relevant deformations.

  • Tetrahedral shapes of neutron-rich Zr isotopes from multidimensionally-constrained relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov model

    提交时间: 2017-07-30

    摘要: We develop a multidimensionally constrained relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (MDC-RHB) model in which the pairing correlations are taken into account by making the Bogoliubov transformation. In this model, the nuclear shape is assumed to be invariant under the reversion of x and y axes; i.e., the intrinsic symmetry group is V4 and all shape degrees of freedom βλμ with even μ are included self-consistently. The RHB equation is solved in an axially deformed harmonic oscillator basis. A separable pairing force of finite range is adopted in the MDC-RHB model. The potential energy curves of neutron-rich even-even Zr isotopes are calculated with relativistic functionals DD-PC1 and PC-PK1 and possible tetrahedral shapes in the ground and isomeric states are investigated. The ground state shape of 110Zr is predicted to be tetrahedral with both functionals and so is that of 112Zr with the functional DD-PC1. The tetrahedral ground states are caused by large energy gaps around Z = 40 and N = 70 when β32 deformation is included. Although the inclusion of the β30 deformation can also reduce the energy around β20 = 0 and lead to minima with pear-like shapes for nuclei around 110Zr, these minima are unstable due to their shallowness.