Search

A low-energy magnetic dipole $(M1)$ spin-scissors resonance (SSR) located just below the ordinary orbital scissors resonance (OSR) was recently predicted in deformed nuclei within the Wigner Function Moments (WFM) approach. We analyze this prediction using fully self-consistent Skyrme Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation (QRPA) method. Skyrme forces SkM*, SVbas and SG2 are implemented to explore SSR and OSR in $^{160,162,164}$Dy and $^{232}$Th. Accuracy of the method is justified by a good description of M1 spin-flip giant resonance. The calculations show that isotopes $^{160,162,164}$Dy indeed have at 1.5-2.4 MeV (below OSR) $I^{\pi}K=1^+1$ states with a large $M1$ spin strength ($K$ is the projection of the total nuclear moment to the symmetry z-axis). These states are almost fully exhausted by $pp[411\uparrow, 411\downarrow]$ and $nn[521\uparrow, 521\downarrow]$ spin-flip configurations corresponding to $pp[2d_{3/2}, 2d_{5/2}]$ and $nn[2f_{5/2}, 2f_{7/2}]$ structures in the spherical limit. So the predicted SSR is actually reduced to low-orbital (l=2,3) spin-flip states. Following our analysis and in contradiction with WFM spin-scissors picture, deformation is not the principle origin of the low-energy spin $M1$ states but only a factor affecting their features. The spin and orbital strengths are generally mixed and exhibit the interference: weak destructive in SSR range and strong constructive in OSR range. In $^{232}$Th, the $M1$ spin strength is found very small. Two groups of $I^{\pi}=1^+$ states observed experimentally at 2.4-4 MeV in $^{160,162,164}$Dy and at 2-4 MeV in $^{232}$Th are mainly explained by fragmentation of the orbital strength. Distributions of nuclear currents in QRPA states partly correspond to the isovector orbital-scissors flow but not to spin-scissors one., Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures

Background: Inelastic proton scattering at energies of a few hundred MeV and very-forward angles including $0^\circ$ has been established as a tool to study electric-dipole strength distributions in nuclei. The present work reports a systematic investigation of the chain of stable even-mass Nd isotopes representing a transition from spherical to quadrupole-deformed nuclei. Purpose: Extraction of the equivalent photo-absorption cross sections and analysis of their fine structure in the energy region of the IsoVector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR). Method: Proton inelastic scattering reactions of 200 MeV protons were measured at iThemba LABS in Cape Town, South Africa. The scattering products were momentum-analysed by the K600 magnetic spectrometer positioned at $\theta_{\mathrm{Lab}}=0^\circ$. Using dispersion-matching techniques, energy resolutions of $\Delta E \approx 40 - 50$ keV were obtained. After subtraction of background and contributions from other multipoles, the spectra were converted to photo-absorption cross sections using the equivalent virtual-photon method. Results: Wavelet-analysis techniques are used to extract characteristic energy scales of the fine structure of the IVGDR from the experimental data. Comparisons with the Quasiparticle-Phonon Model (QPM) and Skyrme Separable Random Phase Approximation (SSRPA) predictions provide insight into the role of different giant resonance damping mechanisms. Conclusions: Fine structure is observed even for the most deformed nuclei studied. Fragmentation of the one particle-one hole ($1p1h$) strength seems to be the main source of fine structure in both spherical and deformed nuclei. Some impact of the spreading due to coupling of the two particle-two hole ($2p2h$) states to the $1p1h$ doorway states is seen in the spherical/transitional nuclei, where calculations beyond the $1p1h$ level are available., Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures; Minor changes made such as those clarifying the descriptions of the analysis procedure, but the results are unchanged. The current version was accepted for publication by PRC on 7 December 2020

The phenomenon of fine structure of the Isoscalar Giant Quadrupole Resonance (ISGQR) has been studied with high energy-resolution proton inelastic scattering at iThemba LABS in the chain of stable even-mass Nd isotopes covering the transition from spherical to deformed ground states. A wavelet analysis of the background-subtracted spectra in the deformed 146,148,150Nd isotopes reveals characteristic scales in correspondence with scales obtained from a Skyrme RPA calculation using the SVmas10 parameterization. A semblance analysis shows that these scales arise from the energy shift between the main fragments of the K = 0, 1 and K = 2 components., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures

Proton inelastic scattering experiments at energy E_p = 200 MeV and a spectrometer scattering angle of 0 degree were performed on 144,146,148,150Nd and 152Sm exciting the IsoVector Giant Dipole Resonance (IVGDR). Comparison with results from photo-absorption experiments reveals a shift of resonance maxima towards higher energies for vibrational and transitional nuclei. The extracted photo-absorption cross sections in the most deformed nuclei, 150Nd and 152Sm, exhibit a pronounced asymmetry rather than a distinct double-hump structure expected as a signature of K-splitting. This behaviour can be related to the proximity of these nuclei to the critical point of the phase shape transition from vibrators to rotors with a soft quadrupole deformation potential. Self-consistent random-phase approximation (RPA) calculations using the SLy6 Skyrme force provide a relevant description of the IVGDR shapes deduced from the present data, Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures

The deformation-induced splitting of isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) is systematically analyzed in a wide range of masses covering medium, rare-earth, actinide, and superheavy axial deformed nuclei. The study is performed within the fully self-consistent quasiparticle random-phase-approximation (QRPA) method based on the Skyrme functional. Two Skyrme forces, one with a large (SV-bas) and one with a small (SkP) nuclear incompressibility, are considered. The calculations confirm earlier results that, due to the deformation-induced E0-E2 coupling, the isoscalar E0 resonance attains a double-peak structure and significant energy upshift. Our results are compared with available analytic estimations. Unlike earlier studies, we get a smaller energy difference between the lower and upper peaks and thus a stronger E0-E2 coupling. This in turn results in more pumping of E0 strength into the lower peak and more pronounced splitting of ISGMR. We also discuss widths of the peaks and their negligible correlation with deformation., Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures

We review a recent progress in investigation of the isoscalar toroidal dipole resonance (TDR). A possible relation of the TDR and low-energy dipole strength (also called a pygmy resonance) is analyzed. It is shown that the dipole strength in the pygmy region can by understood as a local manifestation of the collective vortical toroidal motion at the nuclear surface. Application of the TDR as a measure of the nuclear dipole vorticity is discussed. Finally, an anomalous splitting of the TDR in deformed nuclei is scrutinized., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to "Physics of Atomic Nuclei"

The strong deformation splitting of the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR), recently observed in ($\alpha,\alpha'$) reaction in prolate $^{24}$Mg, is analyzed in the framework of the Skyrme quasiparticle random-phase-approximation (QRPA) approach with the Skyrme forces SkM*, SVbas and SkP$^{\delta}$. The calculations with these forces give close results and confirm that the low-energy E0-peak is caused by the deformation-induced coupling of ISGMR with the K=0 branch of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance., Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, to be published in EPJ Web of Conferences (Proceedings of the International Conference NSRT15, Dubna, Russia, 2015)

The lowest quadrupole $\gamma$-vibrational $K^{\pi}=2^+$ states in axially deformed rare-earth (Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, Hf, W) and actinide (U) nuclei are systematically investigated within the separable random-phase-approximation (SRPA) based on the Skyrme functional. The energies $E_{\gamma}$ and reduced transition probabilities $B(E2)$ of $2^+_{\gamma}$-states are calculated with the Skyrme forces SV-bas and SkM$^*$. The energies of two-quasiparticle configurations forming the SRPA basis are corrected by using the pairing blocking effect. This results in a systematic downshift of $E_{\gamma}$ by 0.3-0.5 MeV and thus in a better agreement with the experiment, especially in Sm, Gd, Dy, Hf, and W regions. For other isotopic chains, a noticeable overestimation of $E_{\gamma}$ and too weak collectivity of $2^+_{\gamma}$-states still persist. It is shown that domains of nuclei with a low and high $2^+_{\gamma}$ -collectivity are related with the structure of the lowest 2-quasiparticle states and conservation of the Nilsson selection rules. The description of $2^+_{\gamma}$ states with SV-bas and SkM$^*$ is similar in light rare-earth nuclei but deviates in heavier nuclei. However SV-bas much better reproduces the quadrupole deformation and energy of the isoscalar giant quadrupole resonance. The accuracy of SRPA is justified by comparison with exact RPA. The calculations suggest that a further development of the self-consistent calculation schemes is needed for a systematic satisfactory description of the $2^+_{\gamma}$ states., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables

The isoscalar giant monopole resonance (GMR) in spherical nuclei $^{100-132}$Sn, $^{144}$Sm, and $^{208}$Pb is investigated within the Skyrme random-phase-approximation (RPA) for a variety of Skyrme forces and different pairing options. The calculated GMR strength functions are directly compared to the available experimental distributions. It is shown that, in accordance to results of other groups, description of GMR in Sn and heavier Sm/Pb nuclei needs different values of the nuclear incompressibilty, $K \approx$ 200 or 230 MeV, respectively. Thus none from the used Skyrme forces is able to describe GMR in these nuclei simultaneously. The GMR peak energy in open-shell $^{120}$Sn is found to depend on the isoscalar effective mass, which might be partly used for a solution of the above problem. Some important aspects of the problem (discrepancies of available experimental data, proper treatment of the volume and surface compression in finite nuclei, etc) are briefly discussed., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Scr. (Proceed. of XXI Nuclear Physics Workshop, 23-28.09.2014, Kazimierz Dolny, Poland)

The isoscalar giant monopole resonance (GMR) in Samarium isotopes (from spherical $^{144}$Sm to deformed $^{148-154}$Sm) is investigated within the Skyrme random-phase-approximation (RPA) for a variety of Skyrme forces. The exact RPA and its separable version (SRPA) are used for spherical and deformed nuclei, respectively. The quadrupole deformation is shown to yield two effects: the GMR broadens and attains a two-peak structure due to the coupling with the quadrupole giant resonance., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, proceedings of 11th Intern. Spring Seminar on Nuclear Physics (Ischia, Italy, May 12-16, 2014)

The effect of nuclear deformation on the isoscalar toroidal and compression dipole modes in prolate $^{170}$Yb is studied in the framework of the random-phase-approximation method with a representative set of Skyrme forces (SV-bas, SLy6, SkM$^*$ and SkI3). It is shown that the deformation crucially redistributes the strength of both modes. The compression mode has the same sequence of $\mu$=0 and 1 branches as the isovector giant dipole resonance where for prolate nuclei the $\mu=0$ mode is lower in energy ($\mu$ being the projection of the axial momentum of the mode). Instead, the toroidal mode exhibits an anomalous (opposite) sequence where the $\mu$=1 branch precedes the $\mu$=0 one., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Scripta

A comparative analysis of toroidal, compressional and vortical dipole strengths in the spherical $^{144}$Sm and the deformed $^{154}$Sm is performed within the random-phase-approximation using a set of different Skyrme forces. Isoscalar (T=0), isovector (T=1), and electromagnetic excitation channels are considered. The role of the nuclear convection $j_{\text{con}}$ and magnetization $j_{\text{mag}}$ currents is inspected. It is shown that the deformation leads to an appreciable redistribution of the strengths and causes a spectacular deformation splitting (exceeding 5 MeV) of the isoscalar compressional mode. In $^{154}$Sm, the $\mu$=0 and $\mu$=1 branches of the mode form well separated resonances. When stepping from $^{144}$Sm to $^{154}$Sm, we observe an increase of the toroidal, compression and vortical contributions in the low-energy region (often called pygmy resonance). The strength in this region seems to be an overlap of various excitation modes. The energy centroids of the strengths depend significantly on the isoscalar effective mass $m_0$. Skyrme forces with a large $m_0$ (typically $m_0/m \approx 0.8 - 1$) seem to be more suitable for description of experimental data for the isoscalar giant dipole resonance., Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, submitted to EJPA

The toroidal, compression and vortical dipole strength functions in semi-magic $^{124}$Sn (and partly in doubly-magic $^{100,132}$Sn) are analyzed within the random-phase-approximation method with the SkT6, SkI3, SLy6, SV-bas, and SkM* Skyrme forces. The isoscalar (T=0), isovector (T=1), and electromagnetic ('elm') channels are considered. Both convection $j_c$ and magnetization $j_m$ nuclear currents are taken into account. The calculations basically confirm the previous results obtained for $^{208}$Pb with the force SLy6. In particular, it is shown that the vortical and toroidal strengths are dominated by $j_c$ in T=0 channel and by $j_m$ in T=1 and 'elm' channels. The compression strength is always determined by $j_c$. It is also shown that the 'elm' strength (relevant for (e,e') reaction) is very similar to T=1 one. The toroidal mode resides in the region of the pygmy resonance. So, perhaps, this region embraces both irrotational (pygmy) and vortical (toroidal) flows., Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Scripta

The multipole vortical, toroidal, and compression modes are analyzed. Following the vorticity concept of Ravenhall and Wambach, the vortical operator is derived and related in a simple way to the toroidal and compression operators. The strength functions and velocity fields of the modes are analyzed in $^{208}$Pb within the random-phase-approximation using the Skyrme force SLy6. Both convection and magnetization nuclear currents are taken into account. It is shown that the isoscalar (isovector) vortical and toroidal modes are dominated by the convection (magnetization) nuclear current while the compression mode is fully convective. The relation between the above concept of the vorticity to the hydrodynamical vorticity is briefly discussed., Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. C. This is the replacement of 1105.0837[nucl-th]. The text was essentially reshuffled following the request of the PRC referee. A scale of strength functions in Figs. 1-5 was corrected. The corrections do not change main results

Low-energy E1 strength in neutron-rich $^{132-164}$Sn isotopes is analyzed in the framework of the Skyrme random phase approximation (RPA) with different Skyrme forces. A double folding procedure is applied to take into account the energy-dependent width effects beyond RPA. All the considered Skyrme forces indicate a soft prolate deformation in the open shell isotopes $^{142-164}$Sn. The integrated E1 strength in the energy region of the pygmy resonance grows with the neutron number. The influence of deformation on the integrated strength near the particle emission thresholds (which is of a keen astrophysical interest) is strictly suppressed by the mutual compensation effect for the branches of the giant dipole resonance. The results obtained are in a good agreement with the previous findings of the relativistic mean field model., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys. E

Despite a great success of the Skyrme mean-field approach in exploration of nuclear dynamics, it seems to fail in description of the spin-flip M1 giant resonance. The results for different Skyrme parameterizations are contradictory and poorly agree with experiment. In particular, there is no parameterization which simultaneously describes the one-peak gross structure of M1 strength in doubly magic nuclei and two-peak structure in heavy deformed nuclei. The reason of this mismatch could lie in an unsatisfactory treatment of spin correlations and spin-orbit interaction. We discuss the present status of the problem and possible ways of its solution. In particular, we inspect i) the interplay of the collective shift and spin-orbit splitting, ii) the isovector M1 response versus isospin-mixed responses, and iii) the role of tensor and isovector spin-orbit interaction., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, to be published in J. Phys. G, special issue on Open Problems in Nuclear Structure Theory (OPeNST)

The self-consistent separable random-phase approximation (SRPA) model with Skyrme forces is extended to the case of magnetic excitations and applied to the description of spin-flip and orbital M1 giant resonances in the isotopic chain $^{142-152}$Nd. The Skyrme forces SkT6, SkM*, SLy6 and SkI3 are used. The calculations show the onset of the scissors mode with increasing deformation. A specific three-peak structure of the spin-flip response is found and explained by particular neutron and proton spin-flip transitions. Although the employed forces provide an acceptable qualitative description, the Skyrme functional still needs further improvement to reproduce quantitatively the experimental data., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures

The spin-flip M1 giant resonance is explored in the framework of Random Phase Approximation on the basis of the Skyrme energy functional. A representative set of eight Skyrme parameterizations (SkT6, SkM*, SLy6, SG2, SkO, SkO', SkI4, and SV-bas) is used. Light and heavy, spherical and deformed nuclei ($^{48}$Ca, $^{158}$Gd, $^{208}$Pb, and $^{238}$U) are considered. The calculations show that spin densities play a crucial role in forming the collective shift in the spectrum. The interplay of the collective shift and spin-orbit splitting determines the quality of the description. None of the considered Skyrme parameterizations is able to describe simultaneously the M1 strength distribution in closed-shell and open-shell nuclei. It is found that the problem lies in the relative positions of proton and neutron spin-orbit splitting. Necessity to involve the tensor and isovector spin-orbit interaction is called for., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures

The isovector dipole E1 strength in Mo isotopes with A=92,94,96,98,100 is analyzed within the self-consistent separable random-phase approximation (SRPA) model with Skyrme forces SkT6, SkM*, SLy6, and SkI3. The special attention is paid to the low-energy region near the particle thresholds (4-12 MeV), which is important for understanding of astrophysical processes. We show that, due to a compensation effect, the influence of nuclear deformation on E1 strength below 10-12 MeV is quite modest. At the same time, in agreement with previous predictions, the deformation increases the strength at higher energy. At 4-8 MeV the strength is mainly determined by the tail of E1 giant resonance. The four Skyrme forces differ in description of the whole giant resonance but give rather similar results below 12 MeV., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys. (E) as contribution to Proceedings of 15th Nuclear Physics Workshop (Kazimierz, Poland, 2008)

The E1(T=1) isovector dipole giant resonance (GDR) in heavy and super-heavy deformed nuclei is analyzed over a sample of 18 rare-earth nuclei, 4 actinides and three chains of super-heavy elements (Z=102, 114 and 120). Basis of the description is self-consistent separable RPA (SRPA) using the Skyrme force SLy6. The self-consistent model well reproduces the experimental data (energies and widths) in the rare-earth and actinide region. The trend of the resonance peak energies follows the estimates from collective models, showing a bias to the volume mode for the rare-earths isotopes and a mix of volume and surface modes for actinides and super-heavy elements. The widths of the GDR are mainly determined by the Landau fragmentation which in turn is found to be strongly influenced by deformation. A deformation splitting of the GDR can contribute about one third to the width and about 1 MeV further broadening can be associated to mechanism beyond the mean-field description (escape, coupling with complex configurations)., Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables

Time-odd densities and their effect on electric giant resonances are investigated within the self-consistent separable random-phase-approximation (SRPA) model for various Skyrme forces (SkT6, SkO, SkM*, SIII, SGII, SLy4, SLy6, SkI3). Time-odd densities restore Galilean invariance of the Skyrme functional, violated by the effective-mass and spin-orbital terms. In even-even nuclei these densities do not contribute to the ground state but can affect the dynamics. As a particular case, we explore the role of the current density in description of isovector E1 and isoscalar E2 giant resonances in a chain of Nd spherical and deformed isotopes with A=134-158. Relation of the current to the effective masses and relevant parameters of the Skyrme functional is analyzed. It is shown that current contribution to E1 and E2 resonances is generally essential and fully determined by the values and signs of the isovector and isoscalar effective-mass parameters of the force. The contribution is the same for all the isotope chain, i.e. for both standard and exotic nuclei., Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, will be published in Proceed. of 14th Nuclear Physics Workshop (Kazimierez, Poland, September, 2007) Comment: latex error in openning Fig. 2 was corrected

The giant dipole resonance (GDR) in deformed nuclei is analyzed using the self-consistent separable random-phase-approximation (SRPA) with Skyrme forces SkT6, SkM$^*$, SLy6 and SkI3. The deformed nuclei $^{150}$Nd and $^{238}$U are used as representative rare-earth and actinide samples. Dependencies of the dipole strength distributions on some basic characteristics of the Skyrme functional and nuclear matter properties (isoscalar and isovector effective masses, time-odd contributions) are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the fragmentation structure of the GDR strength which are shown to depend sensitively to spin-orbit intruder states with large angular momentum., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures

We formulate the self-consistent separable random-phase-approximation (SRPA) method and specify it for Skyrme forces with pairing for the case of axially symmetric deformed nuclei. The factorization of the residual interaction allows to avoid diagonalization of high-rank RPA matrices, which dramatically reduces the computational expense. This advantage is crucial for the systems with a huge configuration space, first of all for deformed nuclei. SRPA takes self-consistently into account the contributions of both time-even and time-odd Skyrme terms as well as of the Coulomb force and pairing. The method is implemented to description of isovector E1 and isoscalar E2 giant resonances in a representative set of deformed nuclei: $^{154}$Sm, $^{238}$U, and $^{254}$No. Four different Skyrme parameterizations (SkT6, SkM*, SLy6, and SkI3) are employed to explore dependence of the strength distributions on some basic characteristics of the Skyrme functional and nuclear matter. In particular, we discuss the role of isoscalar and isovector effective masses and their relation to time-odd contributions. High sensitivity of the right flank of E1 resonance to different Skyrme forces and the related artificial structure effects are analyzed., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

The self-consistent separable RPA (random phase approximation) method is formulated for Skyrme forces with pairing. The method is based on a general self-consistent procedure for factorization of the two-body interaction. It is relevant for various density- and current-dependent functionals. The contributions of the time-even and time-odd Skyrme terms as well as of the Coulomb and pairing terms to the residual interaction are taken self-consistently into account. Most of the expression have a transparent analytical form, which makes the method convenient for the treatment and analysis. The separable character of the residual interaction allows to avoid diagonalization of high-rank RPA matrices and thus to minimize the calculation effort. The previous studies have demonstrated high numerical accuracy and efficiency of the method for spherical nuclei. In this contribution, the method is specified for axial nuclei. We provide systematic and detailed presentation of formalism and discuss different aspects of the model., Comment: 42 pages

Multipole electron modes beyond the Mie plasmon in atomic clusters are investigated within the time-dependent local density approximation theory (TDLDA). We consider the origin of the modes, their connection with basic cluster properties and possible routes of experimental observation. Particular attention is paid to infrared magnetic orbital modes, scissors and twist, and electric quadrupole mode. The scissors and twist modes determine orbital magnetism of clusters while the electric quadrupole mode provides direct access to the single electron spectra of the cluster. We examine two-photon processes (Raman scattering, stimulated emission pumping and stimulated adiabatic Raman passage) as the most promising tools for experimental investigation of the modes., Comment: 37 pages, 15 figures. To be published as a chapter in the book "Atomic and Molecular clusters: New research", Nova Science Publisher (NY)

The impact of nuclear deformation on the momentum distributions (MD) of occupied proton states in $^{238}$U is studied with a phenomenological Woods-Saxon (WS) shell model and the self-consistent Skyrme-Hartree-Fock (SHF) scheme. Four Skyrme parameterizations (SkT6, SkM*, SLy6, SkI3) with different effective masses are used. The calculations reveal significant deformation effects in the low-momentum domain of $K^{\pi}=1/2^{\pm}$ states, mainly of those lying near the Fermi surface. For other states, the deformation effect on MD is rather small and may be neglected. The most remarkable result is that the very different Skyrme parameterizations and the WS potential give about identical MD. This means that the value of effective mass, being crucial for the description of the spectra, is not important for the spatial shape of the wave functions and thus for the MD. In general, it seems that, for the description of MD at $0\le k \le 300$ MeV/c, one may use any single-particle scheme (phenomenological or self-consistent) fitted properly to the global ground state properties., Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures

Infrared quadrupole modes (IRQM) of the valence electrons in light deformed sodium clusters are studied by means of the time-dependent local-density approximation (TDLDA). IRQM are classified by angular momentum components $\lambda\mu =$20, 21 and 22 whose $\mu$ branches are separated by cluster deformation. In light clusters with a low spectral density, IRQM are unambiguously related to specific electron-hole excitations, thus giving access to the single-electron spectrum near the Fermi surface (HOMO-LUMO region). Most of IRQM are determined by cluster deformation and so can serve as a sensitive probe of the deformation effects in the mean field. The IRQM branch $\lambda\mu =$21 is coupled with the magnetic scissors mode, which gives a chance to detect the latter. We discuss two-photon processes, Raman scattering (RS), stimulated emission pumping (SEP), and stimulated adiabatic Raman passage (STIRAP), as the relevant tools to observe IRQM. A new method to detect the IRQM population in clusters is proposed., Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures

Properties of low-energy (infra-red) quadrupole modes (LEQM) of multipolarity $+AFw-lambda+AFw-mu =$20, 21 and 22 in deformed sodium clusters are studied within the Kohn-Sham LDA RPA approach. Possible manifestations of LEQM in stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) reaction are discussed. It is shown that, in free light clusters, where the low-energy spectrum is delute, LEQM can be unambiguously identified as particular electron-hole pairs. This gives a chance to reconstruct the mean field level scheme near the Fermi surface. Moreover, due to the connection with electric $+AFw-lambda+AFw-mu =$21 mode, the scissors mode can be detected. In heavy (supported) oblate clusters, LEQM are in general rather involved. Nevertheless, some interesting $+AFw-lambda+AFw-mu =$21 and 22 structures determined by specific deformation effects can be resolved. The origin of the structures is discussed in detail., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures

Momentum distributions (MD) of deep hole proton states in $^{238}$U are studied paying particular attention to the influence of deformation. Two essentially different mean-field models, Woods-Saxon (WS) and Skyrme-Hartree-Fock with the SkM$^*$ force, are used. Noticeable deviations between the WS and SkM$^*$ results are found. They are mainly due to the difference in effective nucleon mass. In particular, SkM$^*$ gives much weaker deformation effects at low momenta than WS. It is shown that, in spite of the deformation mixing, MD at low momenta can serve for identification of $K^{\pi}=1/2^+$ hole states originating from $s_{1/2}$ spherical sub-shells. Moreover, following the WS calculations, the deformation results in additional $K^{\pi}=1/2^+$ states with strong $l=0$ contributions. A possibility to probe such states in knock-out experiments is discussed., Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. In the replaced version the figures were optimized without changing their content

Low-energy orbital magnetic dipole excitations, known as scissors mode (SM), are studied in alkali metal clusters. Subsequent dynamic and static effects are explored. The treatment is based on a self-consistent microscopic approach using the jellium approximation for the ionic background and the Kohn-Sham mean field for the electrons. The microscopic origin of SM and its main features (structure of the mode in light and medium clusters, separation into low- and high-energy plasmons, coupling high-energy M1 scissors and E2 quadrupole plasmons, contributions of shape isomers, etc) are discussed. The scissors M1 strength acquires large values with increasing cluster size. The mode is responsible for the van Vleck paramagnetism of spin-saturated clusters. Quantum shell effects induce a fragile interplay between Langevin diamagnetism and van Vleck paramagnetism and lead to a remarkable dia-para anisotropy in magnetic susceptibility of particular light clusters. Finally, several routes for observing the SM experimentally are discussed., Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures

We study the scissors mode (orbital M1 excitations) in small Na clusters, triaxial metal clusters ${\rm Na}_{12}$ and ${\rm Na}_{16}$ and the close-to-spherical ${{\rm Na}_9}^+$, all described in DFT with detailed ionic background. The scissors modes built on spin-saturated ground and spin-polarized isomeric states are analyzed in virtue of both macroscopic collective and microscopic shell-model treatments. It is shown that the mutual destruction of Coulomb and the exchange-correlation parts of the residual interaction makes the collective shift small and the net effect can depend on details of the actual excited state. The crosstalk with dipole and spin-dipole modes is studied in detail. In particular, a strong crosstalk with spin-dipole negative-parity mode is found in the case of spin-polarized states. Triaxiality and ionic structure considerably complicate the scissors response, mainly at expense of stronger fragmentation of the strength. Nevertheless, even in these complicated cases the scissors mode is mainly determined by the global deformation. The detailed ionic structure destroys the spherical symmetry and can cause finite M1 response (transverse optical mode) even in clusters with zero global deformation. But its strength turns out to be much smaller than for the genuine scissors modes in deformed systems., Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures

The random-phase-approximation (RPA) method with separable residual forces (SRPA) is proposed for the description of multipole electric oscillations of valence electrons in deformed alkali metal clusters. Both the deformed mean field and residual interaction are derived self-consistently from the Kohn-Sham functional. SRPA drastically simplifies the computational effort which is urgent if not decisive for deformed systems. The method is applied to the description of dipole, quadrupole and octupole plasmons in deformed sodium clusters of a moderate size. We demonstrate that, in clusters with the size N>50, Landau damping successfully competes with deformation splitting and even becomes decisive in forming the width and gross structure of the dipole plasmon. Besides, the plasmon is generated by excitations from both ground state and shape isomers. In such clusters familiar experimental estimates for deformation splitting of dipole plasmon are useless., Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures

A remarkable orbital quadrupole magnetic resonance, so-called twist mode, is predicted in alkali metal clusters where it is represented by $I^{\pi}=2^-$ low-energy excitations of valence electrons with strong M2 transitions to the ground state. We treat the twist by both macroscopic and microscopic ways. In the latter case, the shell structure of clusters is fully exploited, which is crucial for the considered size region ($8\le N_e\le 1314$). The energy-weighted sum rule is derived for the pseudo-Hamiltonian. In medium and heavy spherical clusters the twist dominates over its spin-dipole counterpart and becomes the most strong multipole magnetic mode., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Lett., v.85, n.15, 2000

Multipole electric and magnetic giant resonances in metal clusters are reviewed and compared with their counterparts in atomic nuclei. The main attention is paid to E1 resonance (dipole plasmon)., Comment: LATEX, 19 pages, 4 figures

The orbital M1 collective mode predicted for deformed clusters in a schematic model is studied in a self-consistent random-phase-approximation approach which fully exploits the shell structure of the clusters. The microscopic mechanism of the excitation is clarified and the close correlation with E2 mode established. The study shows that the M1 strength of the mode is fragmented over a large energy interval. In spite of that, the fraction remaining at low energy, well below the overwhelming dipole plasmon resonance, is comparable to the strength predicted in the schematic model. The importance of this result in view of future experiments is stressed., Comment: 10 pages, 3 Postscript figures, uses revtex