Pairing correlations. II. Microscopic analysis of odd-even mass staggering in nuclei

T. Duguet (1) , P. Bonche (1) , P.-H. Heenen (2) , J. Meyer (3)

1 SPhT - Service de Physique Théorique
2 SPT-ULB - Service de Physique Théorique [Bruxelles]
3 IPNL - Institut de Physique Nucléaire de Lyon

The odd-even mass staggering in nuclei is analyzed in the context of self-consistent mean-field calculations, for spherical as well as for deformed nuclei. For these nuclei, the respective merits of the energy differences $\Delta^{(3)}$ and $\Delta^{(5)}$ to extract both the pairing gap and the time-reversal symmetry breaking effect at the same time are extensively discussed. The usual mass formula $\Delta^{(3)}$ is shown to contain additional mean-field contributions when realistic pairing is used in the calculation. A simple tool is proposed in order to remove the time-reversal symmetry breaking effects from $\Delta^{(5)}$. Extended comparisons with the odd-even mass staggering obtained in the zero-pairing limit ͑schematic model and self-consistent calculations͒ show the nonperturbative contribution of pairing correlations on this observable.

Domains: Physics [physics]; Nuclear Theory [nucl-th]

T. Duguet, P. Bonche, P.-H. Heenen, J. Meyer. Pairing correlations. II. Microscopic analysis of odd-even mass staggering in nuclei. Physical Review C, 2001, 65, pp.014311. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevC.65.014311⟩. ⟨cea-02927984⟩