Assuming some known nucleon-nucleon interactions, and using the relations between phase shift δ and nucleon-nucleon interaction potential V ( r) ; the relation between nucleon-nucleon interaction and scattering length a; the relation between energy gap Δ, and scattering length a; an equation is obtained between energy gap Δ and Fermi momentum k F via the phase shift δ ( k F). Assuming 1s 0 (singlet) pairing between the nucleons, the energy gap Δ has been calculated and it is found that Δ = 3.0 MeV at Fermi momentum k F = 0.8 fm -1.
When one particle approaches another particle, and they are in the field of force of each other; they interact and scatter. In this process the following three parameters are involved.
1) The interaction potential V ( r ) between the two particles;
2) The distance between the nearest-approach, called impact parameter or the scattering length a;
3) Phase shift, δ , due to scattering.
However, when dealing with large finite-nuclei, or infinite nuclear matter and neutron matter (in stars), another important parameter gets involved, and this is the so called 1s0 pairing gap Δ . Thus there must exist, a definite relationship between the interaction potential V ( r ) . The scattering length a, the phase shift δ and the pairing gap Δ . Thus the quantitative features of 1s0 pairing in nuclear matter and neutron matter can be obtained directly from the 1s0 phase shifts. The 1s0 neutron matter superfluid is relevant for the phenomena that occur in the inner crust of neutron stars [
After the discovery of neutron stars calculations were done for pairing gap for neutrons [
In BCS approximation, the pairing energy gap is calculated by solving the BCS equation with the free-space nucleon-nucleon interaction and free particles in intermediate states in the scattering process; the effects of the neutron medium on the normal state excitations and the pairing interaction are neglected [
Going by BCS approximation and considering pairing in the 1S0 state, the gap is independent of the direction of k and the relation between gap Δ ( k ) and the interaction potential v ( r ) is given by [
Δ ( k ) = − 1 π ∫ 0 ∞ δ k ′ k ′ V ( k , k ′ ) E ( k ′ ) Δ ( k ′ ) (1)
where V ( k , k ′ ) , is the matrix element of the potential averaged over the angle between k and k ′ given by
V ( k , k ′ ) = ∫ 0 ∞ δ r r 2 j 0 ( k ′ r ) V ( r ) j 0 ( k r ) (2)
We can use two values for V ( r ) one is the Yukawa potential, i.e.
V ( r ) = − V 0 ( b r ) e − v b (3)
where
b = 2 fm and V 0 = 30 MeV (4)
Another is the simple Gaussian potential of the form,
V ( r ) = − V 0 e − α r 2 (5)
where
V 0 = 5037.0 MeV and α = 12.0 fm − 2 (6)
This potential has been used in the phase shift analysis of the 2S1/2 scattering phase. Substituting the values of V ( r ) from Equation (3) and Equation (5) in Equation (2) and then substituting the values of V ( k , k ′ ) in Equation (1) we can get the relation between Δ ( k ) and V 0 clearly emphasizing of the there exists a close relationship between the pairing energy gap and the interaction potential. A rough calculations assuming E ( k ′ ) ≈ Δ ( k ′ ) leads a constant-value for V ( k , k ′ ) = − v 0 b and substituting this in Equation (1) will give a finite value of Δ ( k ) assuming some finite limits for integral in Equation (1), similarly we can use the value of V ( r ) in Equation (5) and obtain the value of Δ ( k ) . Hence there exists a definite correlation between the pairing energy gap Δ ( k ) and obtain the interaction potential. Without making any approximations, exact value of Δ ( k ) can also be calculated [
The nuclear force has been at the heart of nuclear physics since the discovery of the neutrons by Chadwick [
From time to time, a nuclear of nucleon-nucleon interaction potentials has been proposed. For instance, Yukawa potential [
v ( r ) = β r e − r β ( − v 0 ) (7)
Another potential is a simple Gaussian potential of the form [
v ( r ) = v 0 e − α r 2 (8)
where v 0 = 5037.0 MeV , α = 12.0 fm − 2
In the last few decades the major issues concerning the (nucleon-nucleon) interaction have been:
1) Charge-dependence;
2) The precise value of the π nucleon-nucleon compiling constant;
3) Improved phase shift analysis;
4) High precision nucleon-nucleon data;
5) High-precision nucleon-nucleon potentials;
6) Quantum-chromo-Dynamics (QCD) and the nuclear force;
7) Nuclear-nuclear scattering is at intermediate and high energies.
However, in this manuscript we are interested in some simple calculations that will correlate the well known nucleon-nucleon interaction potential v ( r ) with the phase shift δ the scattering length a and the energy gap Δ ; and the dependence of Δ on the Fermi momentum k F has also been studied. Calculations have been done using Yukawa potential only.
Using Yukawa potential calculations are done to relate interaction potential V ( r ) to the phase shift δ l ( k ) and energy gap Δ ( k F ) Yukawa potential V ( r ) = β r e − r β where V ( r ) the interaction is potential, r is the inter-particle distance, β is the range of nucleon-nucleon force and V 0 is potential well depth.
The Born approximation [
δ l = − 2 μ k f ћ 2 ∫ 0 ∞ V ( r ) j l 2 ( k f r ) r 2 d r (9)
Using Bessel function in form
j 0 2 ( k f r ) = sin 2 ( ( k f r ) ( k f r ) 2 ) , for l = 0 , ground state, where k f r < 1 (10)
Using derived equations and the values of the constants available, data was then generated and tabulated. Graphs have been drawn to show how the phase shifts δ t ( k F ) , varies with the Fermi momentum k F . This potential is substituted in the Born-approximation phase shifts, δ p ( k F ) , for scattering from a spherical potential, V ( r ) , in 3-D, and to find the values of phase shifts.
The pairing gap for small values of k F | a 0 | is [
Δ ( k f ) = 8 e 2 λ exp ( − π 2 k f | a 0 | ) (11)
where a 0 the scattering length in the ISO channel is ( a 0 = − 19.3 fm ) , λ is a constant ≈ 1, e = 2.718, here a 0 is related to the interaction potential between a pair of nucleons. However at saturation density ρ 0 = 0.17 fm − 3 , k F = 1.36 fm − 1 .
For low energy scattering especially in nuclear force which corresponds to the size of the potential and δ ι ( k F ) , due to scattering is given by relation
k F cot δ ρ ( k F ) = − 1 a 0 + 1 2 r 0 k F 2
here r 0 is the effective range of the nuclear force which roughly corresponds to the size of the potential and δ ι ( k F ) is the S-wave scattering phase-shift.
At the ground state l = 0 therefore Equation (9) becomes,
δ l ( k F ) = − 2 u k f ℏ 2 ∫ 0 ∞ V ( r ) j 0 2 ( k F r ) r 2 d r (12)
Here j 0 ( k F r ) is the spherical Bessel function of Zeroth order i.e. l = 0 such that,
j 0 2 ( k F r ) = sin 2 ( k F r ) ( k F r ) 2 (13)
It is valid to represent the interaction energy of a particle with momentum k i < k F , with all the particles within the Fermi surface. The values for k i [
j 0 2 ( k F r ) = 1 (14)
Substituting the value of the potential, V ( r ) = V 0 β r exp − r β in Equation (12) we get
δ 0 ( k F ) = 2 μ k f V 0 ℏ 2 ∫ 0 ∞ β r e − r β r 2 d r (15)
Integrating Equation (15) by parts we get,
δ 0 ( k F ) = μ k f V 0 ℏ 2 β 2 (16)
Now for Yukawa potential, the value of the well-depth parameters S is
s = 0.17291 M V 0 ℏ 2 β 2 (17)
where M is the average mass of the two interacting nucleons S ≅ 1 for the bound state of the nuclear matter and hence V 0 is given by
V 0 = 5.7834 ℏ 2 β 2 M (18)
Substituting Equation (17) in Equation (16) gives,
δ 0 ( k F ) = 2.7834 μ k F M (19)
For 1S0 scattering and the reduced mass μ of the two interacting nucleons is given by
μ = m p ⋅ m n m p + m n (20)
where m p the proton is mass equal to 938.27 meV, and m n is the neutron mass equal to 939.57 meV. Substituting the values of the masses in Equation (20) reduced mass μ = 469.46 meV . The average mass M of the proton and neutron is given by the equation,
M = m p + m n 2 (21)
Substituting for the value of the masses M = 938.92 meV , then Equation (19) becomes
δ 0 ( k F ) = 1.1462 k F (22)
Calculating the values of phase shift, δ 0 ( k F ) , for different values of k F ranging from 0.1 fm − 1 , 0.2 fm − 1 , 0.3 fm − 1 , ⋯ , 1.6 fm − 1 . And plot a graph of phase shift δ 0 ( k F ) , against Fermi momentum k F .
For scattering length in the 1S0 channel a 0 = − 19.3 fm , e = 2.718 and λ ≈ 1 Equation (11) for energy gap [
Δ ( k F ) = 8 2.718 2 ⋅ exp ( − π 2 × k F × − 19.3 )
Δ ( k F ) = 8 2.718 2 exp ( − 0.08122 k F ) (23)
Equation (23) will give the values of the energy gap.
It will be interesting to see that if other potentials are used for instance the potential used Hassan and Ramadan study [
Singlet scattering length Equation [
a n n = π 2 k 0 F ( 2 m ϵ c ћ k 0 F + 2 f e x ε ) ≡ π 4 k 0 F ( 1 f e x ε − 1 f c r ε ) − 1 (24)
where critical constant f c r ε = − 2 k 0 F k o c ≅ − 1.912 and f e x ε is the vacuum strength.
The Pairing Gap equation is given by
1) At very low density [
Δ = c ϵ F exp ( π 2 k F a n n ) for a n n < 0 (25)
where c = 8 e − 2 , k = k F and ϵ F = ћ 2 k F 2 ( ρ ) 2 m .
2) At low density [
Δ = ћ 2 m ( 2 π ρ a n n ) 1 2 , for a n n > 0 (26)
where: m is the free nucleon mass.
Recent studies have shown the nuclear isotope shifts, the differential observables such as the odd-even mass differences and odd-even effects in charge radii along isotope chains can be reproduced with an effective density-dependent contact pairing interaction. The self-consistent LEDF calculations with density gradient term α f ∇ ε in pairing force provide desirable size of isotopic shifts. Using Lead isotopes some sets of parameters are deduced for the pairing force. Calculations are done based on the general variation-principle applied to local effective density-dependent function with a fixed energy cutoff ϵ c = 40 MeV measured from ϵ F and on the coordinate-space technique which involves an interaction [
a n n = π 2 k 0 F ( 2 m ϵ c ћ k 0 F + 2 f e x ε ) ≡ π 4 k 0 F ( 1 f e x ε − 1 f c r ε ) − 1 (24)
where critical constant f c r ε = − 2 k 0 F k o c ≅ − 1.912 and f e x ε is the vacuum strength,
Δ = c ϵ F exp ( π 2 k F a n n ) , for a n n < 0 (27)
where c = 8 e − 2 , k = k F and ϵ F = ћ 2 k F 2 ( ρ ) 2 m .
These results agree with the general analysis of the gap equation at low densities for a n n ≪ 1 . It is valid only in the weak coupling regime which corresponds to negative scattering length (
At f e x ε > f c r ε from Equation (1) it shows that at low densities the pairing gap is small and it comes to zero.
Relation between the phase shift δ l , the nucleon-nucleon interaction V ( r ) and the energy gap using Yukawa potential:
Using Equation (22) to calculate the values of phase shift δ 0 ( k F ) , for different values of k F ranging from 0.1 - 1.6 fm−1 and plot a graph of phase shift δ 0 ( k F ) , against Fermi momentum k F .
When the Fermi momentum k F of the interacting nucleons is zero, the value of phase shift δ 0 ( k F ) , is equal to zero in the ground state as seen from
Using Equation (23) to compute the values of energy gap Δ ( k F ) against
changes in the Fermi momentum k F and this variation is done and the data tabulated (
The energy gap Δ ( k F ) increase steadily and faster for low Fermi momentum k F up to around 1.0 fm−1 and it is roughly constant with the value ≅0.8 MeV for k f > 1.0 fm − 1 . In literature the values of the energy gap Δ ( k f ) are 0.4 MeV, 0.6 MeV, 0.7 MeV … for 0.2 fm−1, 0.3 fm−1, 0.4 fm−1 … respectively [
The energy gap Δ ( k F ) increase steadily and faster for low Fermi momentum k F up to around 0.4 fm−1 and it is roughly constant with the value ≅1.0 MeV for k f > 0.4 fm − 1 . In literature the values of the energy gap Δ ( k F ) are 0.2 MeV, 0.4 MeV, 0.6 MeV … for 0.2 fm−1, 0.3 fm−1, 0.4 fm−1 … respectively [
center-of-mass. For higher Fermi momenta the energy gap tends to reach saturation since there is considerable model dependence also because inelastic channels start to open up in nucleon-nucleon scattering. The energy gap Δ ( k F ) increases steadily and faster for low values of Fermi momentum k F and becomes roughly constant for values of k F > 0.4 fm − 1 .
From the results obtained, it can be concluded that scattering length influences the energy gap with different values of Fermi momentum. The behavior of pairing gap (∆) at very low densities agrees well with calculations based on realistic nucleon-nucleon forces. The singlet scattering length which is a n n = − 19.3 fm agrees with the theoretical value which is equivalent to a 0 = − 18.3 fm . Numerical values of scattering length are negative for k F < 2 fm − 1 which means attractive force and positive for k F > 2 fm − 1 indicating repulsive force. At low densities the pairing effect is affected by strong repulsive and short-range component interaction; therefore, the predictions are set to go higher for pairing gap (∆) reaching a maximum of 1.69 MeV at k F = 0.4 fm − 1 with nucleon-nucleon interaction assuming charge dependence. Interactions between nucleons may be characterized by a single parameter, the S-wave scattering length a n n which indicates the strength of interactions. The sign determines whether the interactions are effectively attractive or repulsive. When the scattering length is a n n < 0 the interaction is attractive and repulsive for a n n > 0 . The behavior of pairing gap (∆) at very low densities agrees well with calculations based on realistic NN forces. The singlet scattering length which is a n n = − 20.4 fm at k F = 1 fm − 1 agrees with the theoretical value which is equivalent to a n n = − 18.3 fm . Numerical values of scattering length are negative for k F < 2 fm − 1 which means attractive force and positive for k F > 2 fm − 1 indicating repulsive force. When the Fermi momentum k F of the interacting nucleons is at zero the value of phase shift δ 0 ( k F ) , is equal to zero in the ground state as seen from
In future this problem can be done using nucleon interactions that may involve elementary particles. But such calculations will be quite complicated and will require the use of many-body techniques involving Greens functions can be done. Recent discoveries on elementary particles have led to the suggestions for different types of nuclear interactions involving many parameters. Elementary particles inside the nucleus were the neutrons and protons. But within the theory of quantum chromo-dynamics (QCD), neutrons and protons are no longer the elementary particles. Nuclear forces between neutrons (neutron-neutron force). Protons (proton-proton force) and neutron-proton (neutron-proton force) were treated as charge independent. Within the Theory of QCD, there is what is called Charge Symmetry Breaking (CSB) and consequently the neutron-neutron-scattering length, the proton-proton-scattering length and neutron-proton scattering length change. Consequently there is a corresponding phase shift variation with a n n , a p p and a n p , and there is a different relation with the nuclear force. These calculations can be done in the future.
We are grateful to our colleagues at the Department of Physics, University of Eldoret for their helpful discussions, contributions and suggestions during the preparation and writing of this research paper. We also appreciate the international Centre of theoretical physics for their eJDS platform for providing us with several articles and useful information in line with this publication.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Koech, W.K., Muguro, K.M., Murunga, G.S. and Khanna, K.M. (2019) Correlation between Nucleon-Nucleon Interaction, Pairing Energy Gap and Phase Shift for Identical Nucleons in Nuclear Systems. Journal of High Energy Physics, Gravitation and Cosmology, 5, 321-331. https://doi.org/10.4236/jhepgc.2019.52018