The pseudo-SU(3) model is extended to explicitly include the spin and protonneutron degrees of freedom. A general formalism for evaluating matrix elements of one-body and two-body tensor operators within this framework is presented. The pairing interaction, which couples different irreducible representations of SU (3), is expressed in terms of pseudo-space tensors and a general result is given for calculating its matrix elements. The importance of pairing correlations in pseudo-SU(3) model calculations is demonstrated by examining the dependence of wavefunctions, low-energy collective excitation spectra, and moments of inertia on the strength of the pairing interaction.

Clear evidence for symplectic symmetry in low-lying states of 12C and 16O is reported. Eigenstates of 12C and 16O, determined within the framework of the no-core shell model using the J-matrix inverse scattering potential with A

No abstract

By using only a fraction of the model space extended beyond current no-core shell-model limits and a many-nucleon interaction with a single parameter, we gain additional insight within a symmetryguided shell-model framework, into the many-body dynamics that gives rise to the ground state rotational band together with phenomena tied to alpha-clustering substructures in the low-lying states in 12 C, and in particular, the challenging Hoyle state and its first 2 + and 4 + excitations. For these states, we offer a novel perspective emerging out of no-core shell-model considerations, including a discussion of associated nuclear deformation and matter radii. This, in turn, provides guidance for ab initio shell models by informing key features of nuclear structure and the interaction.

Exact symmetry and symmetry-breaking phenomena play a key role in providing a better understanding of the physics of many-particle systems, from quarks and atomic nuclei, to molecules and galaxies. In atomic nuclei, exact and dominant symmetries such as rotational invariance, parity, and charge independence have been clearly established. However, even when these symmetries are taken into account, the structure of nuclei remains illusive and only partially understood, with no additional symmetries immediately evident from the underlying nucleon-nucleon interaction. Here, we show through ab initio large-scale nuclear structure calculations that the special nature of the strong nuclear force determines additional highly regular patterns in nuclei that can be tied to an emergent approximate symmetry. We find that this symmetry is remarkably ubiquitous, regardless of its particular strong interaction heritage, and mathematically tracks with a symplectic group. Specifically, we show for light to intermediate-mass nuclei that the structure of a nucleus, together with its low-energy excitations, respects symplectic symmetry at about 70-80% level, unveiling the predominance of only a few equilibrium shapes, deformed or not, with associated vibrations and rotations. This establishes the symplectic symmetry as a remarkably good symmetry of the strong nuclear force, in the low-energy regime. This may have important implications to studies, e.g., in astrophysics and neutrino physics that rely on nuclear structure information, especially where experimental measurements are incomplete or not available. A very important practical advantage is that this new symmetry can be utilized to dramatically reduce computational resources required in ab initio large-scale nuclear structure modeling. This, in turn, can be used to pioneer predictions, e.g., for short-lived isotopes along various nucleosynthesis pathways. arXiv:1810.05757v1 [nucl-th]