Density constrained TDHF

TL;DR

This paper details the implementation of the density constrained TDHF method, a parameter-free microscopic approach for modeling nuclear fusion, and demonstrates its application to calculating potentials, cross sections, and excitation energies in heavy-ion reactions.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical implementation of the density constrained TDHF method for nuclear fusion, with applications to heavy-ion potentials and cross section calculations.

Findings

Calculated heavy-ion potentials $V(R)$ and mass parameters $M(R)$

Predicted fusion cross sections for stable and neutron-rich nuclei

Analyzed capture cross sections for superheavy element formation

Abstract

In this manuscript we provide an outline of the numerical methods used in implementing the density constrained time-dependent Hartree-Fock (DC-TDHF) method and provide a few examples of its application to nuclear fusion. In this approach, dynamic microscopic calculations are carried out on a three-dimensional lattice and there are no adjustable parameters, the only input is the Skyrme effective NN interaction. After a review of the DC-TDHF theory and the numerical methods, we present results for heavy-ion potentials $V(R)$, coordinate-dependent mass parameters $M(R)$, and precompound excitation energies $E^{*}(R)$ for a variety of heavy-ion reactions. Using fusion barrier penetrabilities, we calculate total fusion cross sections $\sigma(E_\mathrm{c.m.})$ for reactions between both stable and neutron-rich nuclei. We also determine capture cross sections for hot fusion reactions leading to the formation of superheavy elements.