Quantitative analysis of tensor effects in the relativistic Hartree-Fock theory

TL;DR

This paper identifies tensor forces in the relativistic Hartree-Fock theory arising from meson-nucleon couplings, analyzes their effects on nuclear properties, and compares these effects with non-relativistic models.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of tensor effects in the relativistic Hartree-Fock framework, highlighting their impact on nuclear binding energies and magic gaps.

Findings

Tensor forces originate from all meson-nucleon couplings except sigma-scalar.

Tensor contributions to binding energies are generally small.

Magic gaps at Z, N=8 and 20 are sensitive to tensor effects, unlike Z, N=28.

Abstract

Tensor force is identified in each meson-nucleon coupling in the relativistic Hartree-Fock theory. It is found that all the meson-nucleon couplings, except the $\sigma$-scalar one, give rise to the tensor force. The effects of tensor force on various nuclear properties can now be investigated quantitatively, which allows fair and direct comparisons with the corresponding results in the non-relativistic framework. The tensor effects on nuclear binding energies and the evolutions of the $Z,\,N = 8,\,20$, and $28$ magic gaps are studied. The tensor contributions to the binding energies are shown to be tiny in general. The $Z,\,N = 8$ and $20$ gaps are sensitive to the tensor force, but the $Z,\,N = 28$ gaps are not.