Conformal Symmetry in nuclear structure

TL;DR

This paper explores the application of conformal symmetry and the unitary limit in nuclear structure, linking theoretical models with observable phenomena in heavy nuclei and cold atom systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework connecting the unitary limit with conformal symmetry in nuclear states using the Interacting Boson Model and scattering theory.

Findings

Identification of a tower of equally spaced states at the unitary limit

Measurable fluctuations in cross sections linked to resonances

Potential to study BCS-BEC crossover and critical points in nuclei

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the unitary limit as applied in systems of cold atoms into collective states of heavy, even-even nuclei and to identify a related physical example. This is accompanied by the determination of observables of conformal symmetry in nuclear structure. A Hamiltonian is defined that governs the scattering process of an incident pair of two slow neutrons onto a heavy, even-even target nucleus in the framework of the Interacting Boson Model of nuclear structure. A unitary pair-collective state interaction is introduced along with the effective range expansion of a pair-collective state scattering length. The solutions to the coupled channels equations provide a scattering state for the two neutrons that couples with intermediate states of the $A+2n$ compound nucleus. The unitary limit manifests itself when the intermediate states correspond to pair-collective state resonances the positions of which coincide with the energies of IBM states of the closed channels. The position and the width of each resonance is measurable via the fluctuation of the cross section which tunes the pair-collective state scattering length. Conformal symmetry is represented in a tower of equally spaced states that emerges at the unitary limit from two-boson excitations on the IBM state of the closed channel. These tower states are experimentally testable as a regularity pattern of fluctuations of the cross section, in terms of regular positions and widths. The manifestation of the unitary limit and conformal symmetry via fluctuations of the cross section indicates the $A+2n$ compound nucleus as a physical laboratory for the examination of the BCS-BEC crossover, of an underlying critical point and of algebras with infinite number of generators.