Finite-temperature effects in warm nuclei: Recent developments and open questions
Study of the finite-temperature effects in nuclear systems remain one of the least explored subjects in low-energy nuclear physics, despite the fact that dramatic structural changes are expected to unfold as the excitation energy of the system is increased. Gradual vanishing of the pairing correlations, onset of chaos and rotational damping, prolate-to-oblate shape changes, melting of the shell effects, and eventually the inability of the compound nucleus (CN) to sustain giant resonances at very high temperatures ( death'' of CN) are only a few examples of the rich and varied phenomena yet to be explored. Equally important is the question of thermal fluctuations and the extent to which they modify the above phase transitions. However, a prerequisite to the study of these fascinating questions is a detailed understanding of the formation and decay modes of compound nucleus which is astonishingly, lacking at present. In this chapter we shall discuss some recent experimental and theoretical developments that (a) raise new questions about these pivotal issues, and (b) provide clues and directions toward their resolution. They include questions of equilibration of CN (entrance-channel effects in fusion reactions, and structural effects in evaporation-proton spectra), and variations of the gamma strength functions with spin and temperature which directly affect deexcitation of CN following particle emission.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6001833
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9103176-4; ON: DE92004221
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Workshop on future directions in nuclear physics with 4 ..pi.. gamma detection systems of the new generation, Strasbourg (France), 4-16 Mar 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COMPOUND NUCLEI
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
COMPOUND-NUCLEUS REACTIONS
DEFORMED NUCLEI
GAMMA SPECTRA
MULTIPLICITY
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
PROTON SPECTRA
STRENGTH FUNCTIONS
YRAST STATES
ENERGY LEVELS
FUNCTIONS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
SPECTRA
663110* - General & Average Properties of Nuclei & Nuclear Energy Levels- (1992-)