Coupled-Channels Approach for Dissipative Quantum Dynamics in Near-Barrier Collisions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum dynamical model that integrates dissipation and decoherence effects into coupled-channels calculations, providing insights into how energy loss impacts tunneling in near-barrier nuclear collisions.

Contribution

It presents a new quantum model that combines dissipative dynamics with coupled-channels methods to study nuclear collision processes.

Findings

Transition from pure to mixed quantum states during collisions

Energy dissipation hinders quantum tunneling

Model captures decoherence effects in nuclear reactions

Abstract

A novel quantum dynamical model based on the dissipative quantum dynamics of open quantum systems is presented. It allows the treatment of both deep-inelastic processes and quantum tunneling (fusion) within a fully quantum mechanical coupled-channels approach. Model calculations show the transition from pure state (coherent) to mixed state (decoherent and dissipative) dynamics during a near-barrier nuclear collision. Energy dissipation, due to irreversible decay of giant-dipole excitations of the interacting nuclei, results in hindrance of quantum tunneling.