Particle Physics Seminar: Towards a comprehensive study of quantum phase transitions in atomic nuclei

Abstract:

Quantum phase transitions (QPTs) are a highly investigated phenomenon in nuclear physics, both theoretically and experimentally, where many rare isotope beam facilities investigate a plethora of nuclei as a function of nucleon number in order to understand their evolution in shape and shape coexistence that includes multiple shell model configurations. In this talk I will discuss my attempt to understand such phenomenon using algebraic frameworks. Specifically, I will present the interacting boson model (IBM) for even-even nuclei. This model allows one to investigate a vast array of phenomena, providing insight into the symmetry structure of the nucleus at a low computational cost. Using an extension of this framework to multiple configurations named the IBM with configuration mixing (IBM-CM), I will present my work on the chain of zirconium isotopes (Z=40) with mass numbers A=92-110 and the manifestation of the new notion of intertwined quantum phase transitions (IQPTs). IQPT is a situation involving two types of QPTs simultaneously, where one is a crossing of two configurations in the ground state, and one is a shape evolution within each configuration. Furthermore, I will focus on my ongoing project developed at Yale, introducing a novel model for configuration mixing in odd-mass nuclei, termed the interacting boson-fermion model with configuration mixing (IBFM-CM). Using this framework, I will present my work on the odd-mass niobium isotopes (Z=41) with mass numbers A=93-103 and the manifestation of IQPTs within this chain of isotopes. To conclude, I will provide a brief overview of my other ongoing projects and some prospective ones at the Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL).

Seminar Organizer: Dr. Michael Geller