Coupled-Channels Density-Matrix Approach to Low-Energy Nuclear Reaction Dynamics

Journal Article · Fri Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3628370· OSTI ID:21612038

Diaz-Torres, Alexis ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH (United Kingdom)

Atomic nuclei are complex, quantum many-body systems whose structure manifests itself through intrinsic quantum states associated with different excitation modes or degrees of freedom. Collective modes (vibration and/or rotation) dominate at low energy (near the ground-state). The associated states are usually employed, within a truncated model space, as a basis in (coherent) coupled channels approaches to low-energy reaction dynamics. However, excluded states can be essential, and their effects on the open (nuclear) system dynamics are usually treated through complex potentials. Is this a complete description of open system dynamics? Does it include effects of quantum decoherence? Can decoherence be manifested in reaction observables? In this contribution, I discuss these issues and the main ideas of a coupled-channels density-matrix approach that makes it possible to quantify the role and importance of quantum decoherence in low-energy nuclear reaction dynamics. Topical applications, which refer to understanding the astrophysically important collision {sup 12}C+{sup 12}C and achieving a unified quantum dynamical description of relevant reaction processes of weakly-bound nuclei, are highlighted.

• OSTI ID: 21612038
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1377, Issue 1; Conference: FINUSTAR 3 Conference on frontiers in nuclear structure, astrophysics, and reactions, Rhodes (Greece), 23-27 Aug 2010; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3628370; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
CARBON 12 REACTIONS
CARBON 12 TARGET
COUPLED CHANNEL THEORY
DEGREES OF FREEDOM
DENSITY MATRIX
EXCITATION
GIANT RESONANCE
GROUND STATES
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
QUANTUM DECOHERENCE
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
CALCULATION METHODS
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
HEAVY ION REACTIONS
MATRICES
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
RESONANCE
TARGETS