Characteristics of Coulomb fission

Within an extended semiquantal theory we perform large-sized coupled-channel calculations involving 260 collective levels for Coulomb fission of 238U. Differential Coulomb fission cross sections are studied as a function of bombarding energy and impact parameter for several projectiles. In the Xe + U case, total cross sections are also given. We find a strong dependence on projectile charge number, PCF(180°)∼(Zp)6 in the region 50≤Zp≤92 for a fixed ratio E/ECoul, which might be helpful to separate Coulomb fission experimentally from sequential fission following transfer reactions. Since the cross sections are sensitive to the moment of inertia ⊖ at the saddle point, Coulomb fission can serve as a tool to investigate the dependence of ⊖ on elongation. The fragment angular distribution exhibits deviations from 1/sinθf which are pronounced at low incident energies. Our theory indicates that the recently measured Xe + U fission cross sections contain a major fraction of Coulomb-induced fission at E≤0.85 ECoul. NUCLEAR REACTIONS, FISSION Calculated Coulomb fission cross sections σ(Ep,θp) for 54Xe, 67Ho, 82Pb, 92U→92238U, fragment angular distribution, fission energy spectrum, mean spin value 〈Jf〉

Dynamics of Coulomb fission

A general formalism is described for the treatment of Coulomb fission, within the framework of the semiquantal theory. We develop a model for the fission probabilities of levels excited in Coulomb excitation. This model contains penetration of the double-humped fission barrier, competition from gamma and neutron emission, and the spreading of the collective states into noncollective compound states. For 74184W + 92238U, the fission probability at θc.m.=180° is increased by a factor of 3.9, 3.3, and 2.0 at E/ECoul=0.77, 0.85, and 0.935, respectively, compared to the simplified sharp cutoff model used in earlier model calculations. The enhancement comes from barrier penetration. The damping of the fission probability due to spreading into noncollective compound states is small. Prompt Coulomb fission (near the distance of closest approach) is studied in a one-dimensional model. The results clearly imply that prompt fission is negligible. We have also studied the sudden approximation for collective rotational levels in connection with Coulomb fission. At high spins (I≈20), it leads to significant errors. Contrary to the basic assumption of the sudden approximation that the nuclear symmetry axis remains fixed during the collision, it is shown that Coulomb excitation results in a strong alignment of the nuclear symmetry axis perpendicular to the beam axis at small internuclear distances. NUCLEAR REACTIONS, FISSION Semiquantal theory of prompt and asymptotic Coulomb fission, study of double-humped barrier penetration, damping effects, neutron and γ emission. Calculated σ(Ep, θc.m.=180°)

Microscopic sub-barrier fusion calculations for the neutron star crust

Fusion of very neutron rich nuclei may be important to determine the composition and heating of the crust of accreting neutron stars. Fusion cross sections are calculated using time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory coupled with density-constrained Hartree-Fock calculations to deduce an effective potential. Systems studied include 16O+16O, 16O+24O, 24O+24O, 12C+16O, and 12C+24O. We find remarkable agreement with experimental cross sections for the fusion of stable nuclei. Our simulations use the SLy4 Skyrme force that has been previously fit to the properties of stable nuclei, and no parameters have been fit to fusion data. We compare our results to the simple S\~{a}o Paulo static barrier penetration model. For the asymmetric systems 12C+24O or 16O+24O we predict an order of magnitude larger cross section than those predicted by the S\~{a}o Paulo model. This is likely due to the transfer of neutrons from the very neutron rich nucleus to the stable nucleus and dynamical rearrangements of the nuclear densities during the collision process. These effects are not included in potential models. This enhancement of fusion cross sections, for very neutron rich nuclei, can be tested in the laboratory with radioactive beams.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, corrected small errors in Figs 10, 11, Phys. Rev. C in pres

Static and Dynamic Chain Structures in the Mean-Field Theory

We give a brief overview of recent work examining the presence of $\alpha$-clusters in light nuclei within the Skyrme-force Hartree-Fock model. Of special significance are investigations into $\alpha$-chain structures in carbon isotopes and $^{16}$O. Their stability and possible role in fusion reactions are examined in static and time-dependent Hartree-Fock calculations. We find a new type of shape transition in collisions and a centrifugal stabilization of the $4\alpha$ chain state in a limited range of angular momenta. No stabilization is found for the $3\alpha$ chain.Comment: Fusionn 11 Conference, St. Malo, France, 201

Single-particle dissipation in TDHF studied from a phase-space perspective

We study dissipation and relaxation processes within the time-dependent Hartree-Fock approach using the Wigner distribution function. On the technical side we present a geometrically unrestricted framework which allows us to calculate the full six-dimensional Wigner distribution function. With the removal of geometrical constraints, we are now able to extend our previous phase-space analysis of heavy-ion collisions in the reaction plane to unrestricted mean-field simulations of nuclear matter on a three-dimensional Cartesian lattice. From the physical point of view we provide a quantitative analysis on the stopping power in TDHF. This is linked to the effect of transparency. For the medium-heavy $^{40}$Ca+$^{40}$Ca system we examine the impact of different parametrizations of the Skyrme force, energy-dependence, and the significance of extra time-odd terms in the Skyrme functional.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 2 videos. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1201.526

3-D unrestricted TDHF fusion calculations using the full Skyrme interaction

We present a study of fusion cross sections using a new generation Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) code which contains no approximations regarding collision geometry and uses the full Skyrme interaction, including all of the time-odd terms. In addition, the code uses the Basis-Spline collocation method for improved numerical accuracy. A comparative study of fusion cross sections for $^{16}O + ^{16,28}O$ is made with the older TDHF results and experiments. We present results using the modern Skyrme forces and discuss the influence of the new terms present in the interaction.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure

Neutron Transfer Dynamics and Doorway to Fusion in Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock Theory

We analyze the details of mass exchange in the vicinity of the Coulomb barrier for heavy-ion collisions involving neutron-rich nuclei using the time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) theory. We discuss the time-dependence of transfer and show that the potential barriers seen by individual single-particle states can be considerably different than the effective barrier for the two interacting nuclei having a single center-of-mass. For this reason we observe a substantial transfer probability even at energies below the effective barrier.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figure

Solving the time- and frequency-multiplexed problem of constrained radiofrequency induced hyperthermia

Targeted radiofrequency (RF) heating induced hyperthermia has a wide range of applications, ranging from adjunct anti-cancer treatment to localized release of drugs. Focal RF heating is usually approached using time-consuming nonconvex optimization procedures or approximations, which significantly hampers its application. To address this limitation, this work presents an algorithm that recasts the problem as a semidefinite program and quickly solves it to global optimality, even for very large (human voxel) models. The target region and a desired RF power deposition pattern as well as constraints can be freely defined on a voxel level, and the optimum application RF frequencies and time-multiplexed RF excitations are automatically determined. 2D and 3D example applications conducted for test objects containing pure water (r(target) = 19 mm, frequency range: 500–2000 MHz) and for human brain models including brain tumors of various size (r(1) = 20 mm, r(2) = 30 mm, frequency range 100–1000 MHz) and locations (center, off-center, disjoint) demonstrate the applicability and capabilities of the proposed approach. Due to its high performance, the algorithm can solve typical clinical problems in a few seconds, making the presented approach ideally suited for interactive hyperthermia treatment planning, thermal dose and safety management, and the design, rapid evaluation, and comparison of RF applicator configurations

Continuum effects for the mean-field and pairing properties of weakly bound nuclei

Continuum effects in the weakly bound nuclei close to the drip-line are investigated using the analytically soluble Poschl-Teller-Ginocchio potential. Pairing correlations are studied within the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method. We show that both resonant and non-resonant continuum phase space is active in creating the pairing field. The influence of positive-energy phase space is quantified in terms of localizations of states within the nuclear volume.Comment: 27 RevTeX pages, 12 EPS figures included, submitted to Physical Review