Convergence of electric quadrupole rotational invariants from the nuclear shell model

TL;DR

This study investigates how quickly electric quadrupole rotational invariants converge in nuclear shell model calculations, providing insights into nuclear shape determination and the influence of multiple states on invariant accuracy.

Contribution

It demonstrates the convergence behavior of quadrupole invariants in shell-model calculations, highlighting the number of states needed for accurate shape analysis.

Findings

Four intermediate states achieve 10% convergence for $raket{Q^2}$

Triaxiality term converges to true value with four states

Higher-order shape quantities converge more slowly

Abstract

Nuclei exhibit both single-particle and collective degrees of freedom, with the latter often subdivided into vibrational and rotational motions. Experimentally identifying the relative roles of these collective modes is extremely challenging, particularly in the face of possible shape coexistence. Model-independent, invariant quantities describing the deformation of a nucleus in the intrinsic frame have long been known but their determination potentially requires a large quantity of experimental data to achieve convergence. Through comparison with the nuclear shell model, the question of convergence will be addressed. Shell-model calculations performed in the $sd$- and $pf$-shell model spaces are used to determine electric-quadrupole matrix elements for a multitude of low-lying states. Relative contributions to the rotationally invariant quantities from multiple states can therefore be determined. It is found that on average, the inclusion of four intermediate states results in the leading-order invariant, $\left<Q^2\right>$, converging to within 10% of its true value and the triaxiality term, $\left<\cos{\left(3\delta\right)}\right>$, converging to its true value, though some variance remains. Higher-order quantities relating to the softness of the nuclear shape are found to converge more slowly. The convergence of quadrupole rotationally invariant sum rules was quantified in the $sd$- and $pf$-shell model spaces and indicates the challenge inherent in a full determination of nuclear shape. The present study is limited to relatively small valence spaces. Larger spaces, such as the rare-earth region, potentially offer faster convergence.