Nuclear magnetic transitions in the relativistic energy density functional approach

Abstract

Recently a novel theory framework has been established for description of magnetic dipole (M1) transitions in finite nuclei, based on relativistic nuclear energy density functional with point coupling interactions. The properties of M1 transitions have been studied, including the sum rules, spin, orbital, isoscalar and isovector M1 transition strengths in magic and open shell nuclei. It is shown that pairing correlations and spinorbit interaction plays an important role in the description of M1 transition strength distributions. The analysis of the evolution of M1 transition properties in the isotope chain 100-140 Sn shows the interplay between single and double-peak structures, determined by the evolution of single-particle states, their occupations governed by the pairing correlations, and two-quasiparticle transitions involved. Comparison of the calculated B(M1) transition strength with recent data from inelastic proton scattering on 112-124 Sn, shows that quenching of the g factors geff/gfree =0.80-0.93 is required to reproduce the experimental data. Further experimental investigations are needed to determine accurately the quenching factor.