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The $^{19}$F$(p,\gamma)$$^{20}$Ne reaction is the only process to break out of the CNO cycle at temperature below 0.1 GK and may serve as the origin of calcium in first generation of stars after the Big Bang. In the recent measurement, the Jinping Underground Nuclear Experiment (JUNA) obtained the rate of $^{19}$F$(p,\gamma)$$^{20}$Ne reaction, significantly larger than the previously recommended values. In this work, we perform the theoretical studies of the $^{19}$F$(p,\gamma)$$^{20}$Ne reaction using the Gamow shell model in the coupled-channel representation (GSM-CC). At temperature around 0.1 GK, the predicted rate by GSM-CC is close to the rate found by JUNA. Thus, based on GSM-CC, the break-out reaction $^{19}$F$(p,\gamma)$$^{20}$Ne from the CNO-cycle might win over its competing reaction $^{19}$F$(p,\alpha)$$^{16}$O, and produce enough calcium in the metal poor stars., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures

The open quantum system eigenstate in the vicinity of low-energy decay channel may mimic its features, in particular the characteristic clustering properties of the decay channel. This generic mechanism of clusterization, the so-called mimicry mechanism of clusterization, is discussed here on example of the ground state wave function of $^8$Be. At higher excitation energies, when the density of states and reaction channels is high, the quantal aspects in the clusterization process disappear and the statistical mechanism of clusterization which is rooted in the Central Limit Theorem, begin to dominate., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures

The Gamow shell model provides the open quantum system formulation of nuclear shell model. In the coupled-channel representation, Gamow shell model provides the unified theory of nuclear structure and reactions which is well suited for the study of resonances and clusterization. In this work, we apply this approach to study the continuum-coupling correlation energy for selected near-threshold states of $^7$Li, $^7$Be, using a translationally invariant Hamiltonian with an effective finite-range two-body interaction., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Presented at the 45th Symposium on Nuclear Physics at Cocoyoc, Morelos, Mexico. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2306.05215

$^7$Li and $^7$Be play an important role in Big Bang nucleosynthesis and nuclear astrophysics. The $^3$H($^4$He,$\gamma$)$^7$Li radiative capture reaction is crucial for the determination of the primordial $^7$Li abundance. In nuclear astrophysics, lithium isotopes have attracted a great interest because of the puzzled abundance of $^6$Li and $^7$Li. Purpose: In this work we study spectra of $^7$Be, $^7$Li and elastic scattering cross sections $^4$He($^3$He, $^3$He), $^4$He($^3$H, $^3$H) within the Gamow shell model (GSM) in the coupled-channel formulation (GSM-CC). The evolution of channel amplitudes and spectroscopic factors in the vicinity of the channel threshold is studied for selected states. Methods: GSM provides the open quantum system formulation of nuclear shell model. In the representation of GSM-CC, GSM provides the unified theory of nuclear structure and reactions which is suited for the study of resonances in $^7$Be, $^7$Li and elastic scattering cross-sections involving $^3$H and $^3$He projectiles. Results: The GSM-CC in multi-mass partition formulation applied to a translationally invariant Hamiltonian with an effective finite-range two-body interaction reproduce well the spectra of $^7$Be, $^7$Li and elastic scattering reactions: $^4$He($^3$He, $^3$He), $^4$He($^3$H, $^3$H). Detailed analysis of the dependence of reaction channel amplitudes and spectroscopic factors on the distance from the particle decay threshold allowed to demonstrate the alignment of the wave function in the vicinity of the decay threshold. This analysis also demonstrates the appearance of clustering in the GSM-CC wave function in the vicinity of the cluster decay threshold., Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures

The recent precise experimental determination of the monopole transition form factor from the ground state of $^4$He to its $0^+_2$ resonance via electron scattering has reinvigorated discussions about the nature of this first excited state of the $\alpha$ particle. The $0^+_2$ state has been traditionally interpreted in the literature as the isoscalar monopole resonance (breathing mode) or, alternatively, as a particle-hole shell-model excitation. To better understand the nature of this state, which lies only $\sim$ 410 keV above the proton emission threshold, we employ the coupled-channel representation of the no-core Gamow shell model. By considering the $[^3$H$ + p]$, $[^3$He$ + n]$, and $[^2$H+$^2$H] reaction channels, we explain the excitation energy and monopole form-factor of the $0^+_2$ state. We argue that the continuum coupling strongly impacts the nature of this state, which carries characteristics of the proton decay threshold., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. Lett

Spectrum of $^7$Li and elastic scattering reaction $^4$He($^3$H, $^3$H)$^4$He are studied using the unified description of the Gamow shell model in the coupled-channel formulation (GSMCC). The reaction channels are constructed using the cluster expansion with the two mass partitions [$^4$He + $^3$H], [$^6$Li + n]., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. Presented at Zakopane 2022 Conference on Nuclear Physics

Transfer reactions are essential to determine spectroscopic factors and astrophysical reaction rates. However, their theoretical evaluation is typically effected using standard reaction theory, from which structure degrees of freedom are absent. While reaction cross sections have been implemented in the frame of the no-core shell model with continuum, this model can be applied in practice only to the lightest nuclei. The use of the core + valence nucleon picture is then necessary to include inter-nucleon correlations in reaction cross sections involving medium nuclei. For this, we will use the recently developed coupled-channel Gamow Shell Model (GSM-CC) for direct reactions and extend it to the evaluation of transfer cross sections. As an example, we will study the ${ { }^{ 40 } }$Ca(d,p) transfer reaction with GSM-CC. Experimental data can be successfully reproduced, but at the price of the use of a very phenomenological Hamiltonian., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures

In low metallicity supermassive stars, the hot $pp$ chain can serve as an alternative way to produce the CNO nuclei. In the astrophysical environment of high temperature, the proton capture of $^8$B can be faster than its beta decay, thus $^8$B$(p,\gamma)$$^9$C reaction plays an important role in the hot $pp$ chain. Due to the unstable nature of $^8$B and the lack of the $^8$B beam, the measurement of $^8$B$(p,\gamma)$$^9$C reaction can only be achieved by the indirect method, and large uncertainties exist. The Gamow shell model in the coupled-channel representation (GSM-CC) is applied to study the proton radiative capture reaction $^8$B$(p,\gamma)$$^9$C. For the calculation of the $^8$B$(p,\gamma)$$^9$C astrophysical factors, all E1, M1, and E2 transitions from the initial continuum states to the final bound states ${3/2}_1^-$of $^9$C are considered. The resonant capture to the first resonant state ${1/2}_1^-$ of $^{9}$C is also calculated. The experimental low-energy levels and the proton emission threshold in $^9$C are reproduced by the GSM-CC. The calculated astrophysical factors agrees with the existed experimental data from the indirect measurements. The reaction rates from the direct capture and resonant capture are calculated for the temperature range of astrophysical interest. The calculated total astrophysical $S$ factor is dominated by the E1 transition to the ground state of $^9$C. The GSM-CC calculations suggest that $S$ first increase with the energy of the center of mass $E_{\rm c.m.}$, and then decrease with the energy. This agrees with the existing data, which has smaller values at around zero energy and larger value in the energy range of 0.2 MeV $\leq E_{\rm c.m.} \leq$ 0.6 MeV., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures

The nucleus 11C plays an important role in the boron-proton fusion reactor environment as a catalyzer of the 10B(p,{\alpha})7Be reaction which, by producing a long-lived isotope of 7Be, poisons the aneutronic fusion process 11B(p,2{\alpha})4He. The low-energy cross section of 10B(p,{\alpha})7Be depends on the near-threshold states 7/2+1 , 5/2+2 , 5/2+3 in 11C whose properties are primarily known from the indirect measurements. We investigate the continuum-coupling induced collectivization of these resonances in the shell model embedded in the continuum. We predict a significant enhancement of the 10B(p,{\alpha})7Be cross section at energies accessible to the laser-driven hot plasma facilities., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

Beta-delayed proton emission from the neutron halo ground state of $^{11}$Be raised much attention due to the unusually high decay rate. It was argued that this may be due to the existence of a resonance just above the proton decay threshold. In this Letter, we use the lenses of real-energy continuum shell model to describe several observables including the Gamow-Teller rates for the $\beta^-$-delayed $\alpha$ and proton decays, and argue that, within our model, the large $\beta^-{\rm p}$ branching ratio cannot be reconciled with other data., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

The structure of the unbound $^{15}$F nucleus is investigated using the inverse kinematics resonant scattering of a radioactive $^{14}$O beam impinging on a CH$_2$ target. The analysis of $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,p)$^{14}$O and $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,2p)$^{13}$N reactions allowed the confirmation of the previously observed narrow $1/2^{-}$ resonance, near the two-proton decay threshold, and the identification of two new narrow 5/2$^{-}$ and 3/2$^{-}$ resonances. The newly observed levels decay by 1p emission to the ground of $^{14}$O, and by sequential 2p emission to the ground state (g.s.) of $^{13}$N via the $1^-$ resonance of $^{14}$O. Gamow shell model (GSM) analysis of the experimental data suggests that the wave functions of the 5/2$^{-}$ and 3/2$^{-}$ resonances may be collectivized by the continuum coupling to nearby 2p- and 1p- decay channels. The observed excitation function $^{1}$H($^{14}$O,p)$^{14}$O and resonance spectrum in $^{15}$F are well reproduced in the unified framework of the GSM., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

Single-nucleon knockout reaction studies of the proton-dripline nuclei $^9$C and $^{13}$O suggest an appreciable suppression of spectroscopic factors. In this work, we calculate the one-neutron and one-proton spectroscopic factors for the mirror pair $^9$C-$^9$Li and $^{13}$O using two variants of the continuum shell model: the complex-energy Gamow Shell Model and the real-energy Shell Model Embedded in the Continuum. Our results indicate that the continuum effects strongly suppress the spectroscopic factors of well-bound orbits in the dripline systems, but have less impact on the spectroscopic factors of weakly-bound states., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

Near-threshold collectivization of continuum shell model eigenstates is investigated in $^{20}$O on the example of B(E$\lambda$) decays of 4$^+$ states in the vicinity of elastic and inelastic neutron threshold. Changes of the electromagnetic transition probabilities as a function of the continuum-coupling strength are explained by the corresponding evolution of the double poles of the scattering matrix., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, Invited presentation at the XXXVI Mazurian Lakes Conference on Physics, September 1-7, 2019, Piaski, Poland

Excited states in $^{14}$O have been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Experimentally, these states were produced via neutron-knockout reactions with a fast $^{15}$O beam and the invariant-mass technique was employed to isolate the 1$p$ and 2$p$ decay channels and determine their branching ratios. The spectrum of excited states was also calculated with the Shell Model Embedded in the Continuum that treats bound and scattering states in a unified model. By comparing energies, widths and decay branching patterns, spin and parity assignments for all experimentally observed levels below 8 MeV are made. This includes the location of the second 2$^{+}$ state that we find is in near degeneracy with the third 0$^{+}$ state. An interesting case of sequential 2$p$ decay through a pair of degenerate $^{13}$N excited states with opposite parities was found where the interference between the two sequential decay pathways produces an unusual relative-angle distribution between the emitted protons., Comment: 19 pages, 20 figures

The presence of cluster-like narrow resonances in the vicinity of reaction/decay thresholds is a ubiquitous phenomenon with profound consequences. We argue that the continuum coupling, present in the open quantum system description of the atomic nucleus, can profoundly impact the nature of near-threshold states. In this Letter, we discuss the structure of the recently observed near-threshold resonance in $^{11}$B, whose very existence explains the puzzling beta-delayed proton emission of the neutron-rich $^{11}$Be., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

Mixing of the shell model (SM) eigenstates due to the coupling via the common decay channel leads in many cases to the formation of a collective eigenstate which carries many features of the nearby decay channel. This generic mechanism in open quantum systems explains the phenomenological Ikeda diagram and generalizes it for various clusters/correlations in the vicinity of the respective cluster decay thresholds. The near-threshold collectivization of the SM states may also influence their electromagnetic decays. We discuss this phenomenon on the example of B(EL) decays of near-threshold 2+ states in 14C., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Invited talk at INPC2019

Structure of weakly bound/unbound light nuclei is often related to the low-energy decay channels involving composite particles like deuteron or ${\alpha}$-particle. These channels are essential to understand the appearance of light nuclei in the Big Bang nucleosynthesis or the helium fusion. We generalize the Gamow shell model (GSM) in coupled-channel (GSM-CC) representation to include reaction channels with the composite particles. In the core + valence particle formulation, this unified microscopic approach for structure and reactions involving weakly bound/unbound nuclei can be also applied to study low-energy properties of heavy nuclei. As the first application of this generalized GSM-CC approach, we describe the structure of 6Li and deuteron - ${\alpha}$-particle elastic scattering using the same effective Furutani-Horiuchi-Tamagaki (FHT) type nucleon-nucleon interaction. Asymptotically, the deuteron structure including its continuum is described using the N3LO chiral force. The bulk of the data, including low-energy spectrum of 6Li, asymptotic normalization coefficients, and angular differential cross sections are satisfactorily described., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables

The structure of weakly bound and unbound nuclei close to particle drip lines is one of the major science drivers of nuclear physics. A comprehensive understanding of these systems goes beyond the traditional configuration interactions approach formulated in the Hilbert space of localized states (nuclear shell model) and requires an open quantum system description. The complex-energy Gamow Shell Model (GSM) provides such a framework as it is capable of describing resonant and non-resonant many-body states on equal footing. To make reliable predictions, quality input is needed that allows for the full uncertainty quantification of theoretical results. In this study, we carry out the optimization of an effective GSM (one-body and two-body) interaction in the $psdf$ shell model space. The resulting interaction is expected to describe nuclei with $5 \leqslant A \leqslant 12$ at the $p-sd$-shell interface. The optimized one-body potential reproduces nucleon-$^4$He scattering phase shifts up to an excitation energy of 20 MeV. The two-body interaction built on top of the optimized one-body field is adjusted to the bound and unbound ground-state binding energies and selected excited states of the Helium, Lithium, and Beryllium isotopes up to $A=9$. A very good agreement with experiment was obtained for binding energies. First applications of the optimized interaction include predictions for two-nucleon correlation densities and excitation spectra of light nuclei with quantified uncertainties. The new interaction will enable comprehensive and fully quantified studies of structure and reactions aspects of nuclei from the $psd$ region of the nuclear chart., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 9 tables

The search for a resonant four-neutron system has been revived thanks to the recent experimental hints reported in Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{116}, 052501 (2016). The existence of such a system would deeply impact our understanding of nuclear matter and requires a critical investigation. In this work, we study the existence of a four-neutron resonance in the quasi-stationary formalism using \textit{ab initio} techniques with various two-body chiral interactions. We employ the No-Core Gamow Shell Model and the Density Matrix Renormalization Group method, both supplemented by the use of natural orbitals and a new identification technique for broad resonances. We demonstrate that while the energy of the four-neutron system may be compatible with the experimental value, its width must be larger than the reported upper limit, supporting the interpretation of the experimental observation as a reaction process too short to form a nucleus.

We present a generalized Richardson solution for fermions interacting with the pairing interaction in both discrete and continuum parts of the single particle (s.p.) spectrum. The pairing Hamiltonian is based on the rational Gaudin (RG) model which is formulated in the Berggren ensemble. We show that solutions of the generalized Richardson equations are exact in the two limiting situations: (i) in the pole approximation and (ii) in the s.p. continuum. If the s.p. spectrum contains both discrete and continuum parts, then the generalized Richardson equations provide accurate solutions for the Gamow Shell Model.

In quadrupole-bound anions, an extra electron is attached at a sufficiently large quadrupole moment of a neutral molecule, which is lacking a permanent dipole moment. The nature of the bound states and low-lying resonances of such anions is of interest for understanding the threshold behavior of open quantum systems in general. In this work, we investigate the properties of quadrupolar anions as extreme halo systems, the formation of rotational bands, and the transition from a subcritical to supercritical electric quadrupole moment. We solve the electron-plus-molecule problem using a non-adiabatic coupled-channel formalism by employing the Berggren ensemble, which explicitly contains bound states, narrow resonances, and the scattering continuum. We demonstrate that binding energies and radii of quadrupolar anions strictly follow the scaling laws for two-body halo systems. Contrary to the case of dipolar anions, ground-state band of quadrupolar anions smoothly extend into the continuum, and many rotational bands could be identified above the detachment threshold. We study the evolution of a bound state of an anion as to dives into the continuum at a critical quadrupole moment and we show that the associated critical exponent is consistent with the second-order phase transition. Everything considered, quadrupolar anions represent a perfect laboratory for the studies of marginally bound open quantum systems.

Intense and purified radioactive beam of post-accelerated $^{14}$O was used to study the low-lying states in the unbound $^{15}$F nucleus. Exploiting resonant elastic scattering in inverse kinematics with a thick target, the second excited state, a resonance at E$\_R$=4.757(6)(10)~MeV with a width of $\Gamma$=36(5)(14)~keV was measured for the first time with high precision. The structure of this narrow above-barrier state in a nucleus located two neutrons beyond the proton drip line was investigated using the Gamow Shell Model in the coupled channel representation with a $^{12}$C core and three valence protons. It is found that it is an almost pure wave function of two quasi-bound protons in the $2s\_{1/2}$ shell., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, Submitted to Phys. Lett. B

According to standard stellar evolution, lithium abundance is believed to be a useful indicator of the stellar age. However, many evolved stars like red giants show huge fluctuations around expected theoretical abundances that are not yet fully understood. The better knowledge of nuclear reactions that contribute to the creation and destruction of lithium can help to solve this puzzle. In this work we apply the Gamow shell model (GSM) formulated in the coupled-channel representation (GSM-CC) to investigate the mirror radiative capture reactions $^6$Li$(p,\gamma)$$^7$Be and $^6$Li$(n,\gamma)$$^7$Li. The cross-sections are calculated using a translationally invariant Hamiltonian with the finite-range interaction which is adjusted to reproduce spectra, binding energies and one-nucleon separation energies in $^{6-7}$Li, $^7$Be. All relevant $E1$, $M1$, and $E2$ transitions from the initial continuum states to the final bound states $J={3/2}_1^-$ and $J={1/2}^-$ of $^7$Li and $^7$Be are included. We demonstrate that the $s$-wave radiative capture of proton (neutron) to the first excited state $J^{\pi}=1/2_1^+$ of $^7$Be ($^7$Li) is crucial and increases the total astrophysical $S$-factor by about 40 \%., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1502.01631

There is a considerable interest in understanding the dependence of one-nucleon removal cross sections on the asymmetry of the neutron $S_n$ and proton $S_p$ separation energies, following a large amount of experimental data and theoretical analyses in a framework of sudden and eikonal approximations of the reaction dynamics. These theoretical calculations involve both the single-particle cross section and the shell-model description of the projectile initial state and final states of the reaction residues. The configuration mixing in shell-model description of nuclear states depends on the proximity of one-nucleon decay threshold but does it depend sensitively on $S_n - S_p$? To answer this question, we use the shell model embedded in the continuum to investigate the dependence of one-nucleon spectroscopic factors on the asymmetry of $S_n$ and $S_p$ for mirror nuclei $^{24}$Si, $^{24}$Ne and $^{28}$S, $^{28}$Mg and for a series of neon isotopes ($20 \leq A \leq 28$)., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We have applied the Gamow shell model (GSM) in the coupled-channel representation to study the astrophysical $S$-factor for the proton radiative capture reaction of $^6$Li. Reaction channels are built by coupling the proton wave function expanded in different partial waves with the GSM wave functions of the ground state ($1^+$) and the excited states ($3^+_1$, $0^+_1$ and $2^+_1$) of $^6$Li. All relevant $E1$, $M1$, and $E2$ transitions from the initial continuum states in $^7$Be to the final bound states (${3/2}^-_1$ and ${1/2}^-_1$) states are included. It is found that the calculated total astrophysical $S$ factor for this reaction agrees well with the experimental data., Comment: Presented at the 13th Int. Symposium on Origin of Matter and Evolution of Galaxies (OMEG2015, June 24-27, 2015, Beijing, China

${\textbf{Background:}}$ Atomic nuclei often exhibit collective rotational-like behavior in highly excited states, well above the particle emission threshold. What determines the existence of collective motion in the continuum region, is not fully understood. ${\textbf{Purpose:}}$ In this work, by studying the collective rotation of the positive-parity deformed configurations of the one-neutron halo nucleus $^{11}$Be, we assess different mechanisms that stabilize collective behavior beyond the limits of particle stability. ${\textbf{Method:}}$ To solve a particle-plus-core problem, we employ a non-adiabatic coupled-channel formalism and the Berggren single-particle ensemble, which explicitly contains bound states, narrow resonances, and the scattering continuum. We study the valence-neutron density in the intrinsic rotor frame to assess the validity of the adiabatic approach as the excitation energy increases. ${\textbf{Results:}}$ We demonstrate that collective rotation of the ground band of $^{11}$Be is stabilized by (i) the fact that the $\ell=0$ one-neutron decay channel is closed, and (ii) the angular momentum alignment, which increases the parentage of high-$\ell$ components at high spins; both effects act in concert to decrease decay widths of ground-state band members. This is not the case for higher-lying states of $^{11}$Be, where the $\ell=0$ neutron-decay channel is open and often dominates. ${\textbf{Conclusion:}}$ We demonstrate that long-lived collective states can exist at high excitation energy in weakly bound neutron drip-line nuclei such as $^{11}$Be.

We derive the approximate solution for the pairing Hamiltonian in the Berggren ensemble of single particle states including bound, resonance and non-resonant scattering states. We show that this solution is reliable in the limit of a weak pairing interaction.

We are witnessing an era of intense experimental efforts that will provide information about the properties of nuclei far from the line of stability, regarding resonant and scattering states as well as (weakly) bound states. This talk describes our formalism for including these necessary ingredients into the No-Core Shell Model by using the Gamow Shell Model approach. Applications of this new approach, known as the No-Core Gamow Shell Model, both to benchmark cases as well as to unstable nuclei will be given., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Proceedings of the "14th International Conference on Nuclear Reaction Mechanisms", Varenna (Italy), June 15-19, 2015

We formulate the Gamow shell model (GSM) in coupled-channel (CC) representation for the description of proton/neutron radiative capture reactions and present the first application of this new formalism for the calculation of cross-sections in mirror reactions 7Be(p,gamma)8B and 7Li(n,gamma)8Li. The GSM-CC formalism is applied to a translationally-invariant Hamiltonian with an effective finite-range two-body interaction. Reactions channels are built by GSM wave functions for the ground state 3/2- and the first excited state 1/2- of 7Be/7Li and the proton/neutron wave function expanded in different partial waves.

Bound and resonance states of the dipole-bound anion of hydrogen cyanide HCN$^-$ are studied using a non-adiabatic pseudopotential method and the Berggren expansion technique involving bound states, decaying resonant states, and non-resonant scattering continuum. We devise an algorithm to identify the resonant states in the complex energy plane. To characterize spatial distributions of electronic wave functions, we introduce the body-fixed density and use it to assign families of resonant states into collective rotational bands. We find that the non-adiabatic coupling of electronic motion to molecular rotation results in a transition from the strong-coupling to weak-coupling regime. In the strong coupling limit, the electron moving in a subthreshold, spatially extended halo state follows the rotational motion of the molecule. Above the ionization threshold, electron's motion in a resonance state becomes largely decoupled from molecular rotation. Widths of resonance-band members depend primarily on the electron orbital angular momentum., Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures

Radioactive beams of $^{14}$O and $^{15}$O were used to populate the resonant states 1/2$^+$, 5/2$^+$ and $0^-,1^-,2^-$ in the unbound $^{15}$F and $^{16}$F nuclei respectively by means of proton elastic scattering reactions in inverse kinematics. Based on their large proton spectroscopic factor values, the resonant states in $^{16}$F can be viewed as a core of $^{14}$O plus a proton in the 2s$_{1/2}$ or 1d$_{5/2}$ shell and a neutron in 1p$_{1/2}$. Experimental energies were used to derive the strength of the 2s$_{1/2}$-1p$_{1/2}$ and 1d$_{5/2}$-1p$_{1/2}$ proton-neutron interactions. It is found that the former changes by 40% compared with the mirror nucleus $^{16}$N, and the second by 10%. This apparent symmetry breaking of the nuclear force between mirror nuclei finds explanation in the role of the large coupling to the continuum for the states built on an $\ell=0$ proton configuration., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication as a regular article in Physical Review C

We formulate the GSM in coupled-channel (GSM-CC) representation to describe low-energy elastic and inelastic scattering of protons on $^{18}$Ne. The GSM-CC formalism is applied to a translationally-invariant Hamiltonian with an effective finite-range two-body interaction. We discuss in details the GSM-CC formalism in coordinate space and give the description of the novel equivalent potential method for solving the GSM-CC system of integro-differential equations. We present the first application of the GSM-CC formalism for the calculation of excited states of $^{18}$Ne and $^{19}$Na, excitation function and the elastic/inelastic differential cross-sections in the $^{18}$Ne$(p,p')$ reaction at different energies., Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures

The appearance of charged-particle clustering in near-threshold configuration is a phenomenon that can be explained in the Open Quantum System description of the atomic nucleus. In this work we apply the realistic Shell Model Embedded in the Continuum to elucidate the emergence of neutron correlations in near-threshold many-body states coupled to l=1,2 neutron decay channels. Spectral consequences of such continuum coupling are briefly discussed together with the emergence of complex multi-neutron correlations., Comment: Invited talk at XXXIII Mazurian Lakes Conference on Physics

In this contribution we show that the biggest fragment charge distribution in central collisions of Xe+Sn leading to multifragmentation is an admixture of two asymptotic distributions observed for the lowest and highest bombarding energies. The evolution of the relative weights of the two components with bombarding energy is shown to be analogous to that observed as a function of time for the largest cluster produced in irreversible aggregation for a finite system. We infer that the size distribution of the largest fragment in nuclear multifragmentation is also characteristic of the time scale of the process, which is largely determined by the onset of radial expansion in this energy range., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Contribution to conference proceedings of the 25th International Nuclear Physics Conference (INPC 2013)

Bound states of dipole-bound negative anions are studied by using a non-adiabatic pseudopotential method and the Berggren expansion involving bound states, decaying resonant states, and non-resonant scattering continuum. The method is benchmarked by using the traditional technique of direct integration of coupled channel equations. A good agreement between the two methods has been found for well-bound states. For weakly-bound subthreshold states with binding energies comparable with rotational energies of the anion, the direct integration approach breaks down and the Berggren expansion method becomes the tool of choice., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures

No-Core Gamow Shell Model (NCGSM) is applied for the first time to study selected well-bound and unbound states of helium isotopes. This model is formulated on the complex energy plane and, by using a complete Berggren ensemble, treats bound, resonant, and scattering states on equal footing. We use the Density Matrix Renormalization Group method to solve the many-body Schr\"{o}dinger equation. To test the validity of our approach, we benchmarked the NCGSM results against Faddeev and Faddeev-Yakubovsky exact calculations for $^3$H and $^4$He nuclei. We also performed {\textit ab initio} NCGSM calculations for the unstable nucleus $^5$He and determined the ground state energy and decay width, starting from a realistic N$^3$LO chiral interaction., Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures. Revised version. Discussion on microscopic overlap functions, SFs and ANCs is added. Added references. Accepted for publication at PRC

Structure of weakly bound/unbound nuclei close to particle drip lines is different from that around the valley of beta stability. A comprehensive description of these systems goes beyond standard Shell Model and demands an open quantum system description of the nuclear many-body system. We approach this problem using the Gamow Shell Model which provides a fully microscopic description of bound and unbound nuclear states, nuclear decays, and reactions. We present in this paper the first application of the GSM for a description of the elastic and inelastic scattering of protons on 6He., Comment: Proc. Int. Conf. "Horizons of Innovative Theories, Experiments and Supercomputing in Nuclear Physics", June 4-7, 2012, New Orleans, Luisiana, USA; 10 pages, 4 figures

Distributions of the largest fragment charge, Zmax, in multifragmentation reactions around the Fermi energy can be decomposed into a sum of a Gaussian and a Gumbel distribution, whereas at much higher or lower energies one or the other distribution is asymptotically dominant. We demonstrate the same generic behavior for the largest cluster size in critical aggregation models for small systems, in or out of equilibrium, around the critical point. By analogy with the time-dependent irreversible aggregation model, we infer that Zmax distributions are characteristic of the multifragmentation time-scale, which is largely determined by the onset of radial expansion in this energy range., Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters on 8/4/2013

Open Quantum System (OQS) description of a many-body system involves interaction of Shell Model (SM) states through the particle continuum. In realistic nuclear applications, this interaction may lead to collective phenomena in the ensemble of SM states. We claim that the nuclear clustering is an emergent, near-threshold phenomenon, which cannot be elucidated within the Closed Quantum System (CQS) framework. We approach this problem by investigating the near-threshold behavior of Exceptional Points (EPs) in the realistic Continuum Shell Model (CSM). The consequences for the alpha-clustering phenomenon are discussed., Comment: Special Issue of Fortschritte der Physik - Progress of Physics: Physics of Non-Hermitian Systems (10 pages, 10 figures)

Background: An asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) characterizes the asymptotic form of a one-nucleon overlap integral required for description of nucleon-removal reactions. Purpose: We investigate the impact of the particle continuum on proton and neutron ANCs for mirror systems from $p$- and $sd$-shell regions. Method: We use the real-energy and complex-energy continuum shell model approaches. Results: We studied the general structure of the single-particle ANCs as a function of the binding energy and orbital angular momentum. We computed ANCs in mirror nuclei for different physical situations, including capture reactions to weakly-bound and unbound states. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the single-particle ANCs exhibit generic behavior that is different for charged and neutral particles. We verified the previously proposed relation [N.K. Timofeyuk, R.C. Johnson, and A.M. Mukhamedzhanov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 232501 (2003); Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 069904(E) (2006); N. K. Timofeyuk and P. Descouvemont, Phys. Rev. C 72, 064324 (2005)] between proton and neutron mirror ANCs. We find minor modifications if the spectroscopic strength is either localized in a single state or broadly distributed. For cases when several states couple strongly to the decay channel, these modifications may reach 30%., Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, 9 tables

Clustering is one of the most complex phenomena known to the structure of atomic nuclei. A comprehensive description of this ubiquitous phenomenon goes beyond standard shell model and cluster model frameworks. We argue that clustering is a consequence of an openness of the nuclear many-body system. To illustrate this point, we study the near-threshold behavior of exceptional points in ^16 Ne and ^24 S., Comment: Proceedings "Frontier Issues in Physics of Exotic Nuclei" (YKIS2011/DCEN2011), 14 pages, 9 figures

Within the complex-energy configuration interaction framework, we study correlations of valence neutrons to explain the behavior of charge radii in the neutron halo nuclei $^{6,8}$He. We find that the experimentally observed decrease of the charge radius between $^6$He and $^8$He is caused by a subtle interplay between three effects: dineutron correlations, a spin-orbit contribution to the charge radius, and a core swelling effect. We demonstrate that two-neutron angular correlations in the $2^+_1$ resonance of $^6$He differ markedly from the ground-state correlations in $^{6,8}$He., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures

We investigate properties of the Generator Coordinate Method (GCM) on a collective basis of Antisymmetrized Quasi-Cluster (AQC) states to describe the cluster-shell competition in $^{20}$Ne and $^{24}$Mg due to the spin-orbit interaction. By introducing a single additional parameter in the antisymmetrized-cluster basis function, a continuous transformation of the $\alpha$ cluster(s) into independent nucleons can be described. We apply this GCM trial wave function to study in details the transition from cluster states $[ ^{16}$O+$\alpha ]$ and $[ ^{16}$O+$\alpha + \alpha]$ to shell model (SM) states $[ ^{16}$O+${\rm 4N} ]$ and $[ ^{16}$O+${\rm 8N} ]$, respectively. An optimal value of the strength of the spin-orbit interaction is deduced by reproducing level spacing in $^{20}$Ne. A possible connection to the group theoretical understanding of the cluster-shell configuration transition is also discussed., Comment: Phys. Rev. C in press

Is there a connection between the branch point singularity at the particle emission threshold and the appearance of cluster states which reveal the structure of a corresponding reaction channel? Which nuclear states are most impacted by the coupling to the scattering continuum? What should be the most important steps in developing the theory that will truly unify nuclear structure and nuclear reactions? The common denominator of these questions is the continuum shell-model approach to bound and unbound nuclear states, nuclear decays, and reactions., Comment: Contribution to the "Focus issue on Open Problems in Nuclear Structure", Journal of Physics G

The isospin breaking effects due to the Coulomb interaction in weakly-bound nuclei are studied using the Gamow Shell Model, a complex-energy configuration interaction approach which simultaneously takes into account many-body correlations between valence nucleons and continuum effects. We investigate the near-threshold behavior of one-nucleon spectroscopic factors and the structure of wave functions along an isomultiplet. Illustrative calculations are carried out for the T=1 isobaric triplet. By using a shell-model Hamiltonian consisting of an isoscalar nuclear interaction and the Coulomb term, we demonstrate that for weakly bound or unbound systems the structure of isobaric analog states varies within the isotriplet and impacts the energy dependence of spectroscopic factors. We discuss the partial dynamical isospin symmetry present in isospin-stretched systems, in spite of the Coulomb interaction that gives rise to large mirror symmetry breaking effects., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures ; published version

The manifestation of exceptional points in the scattering continuum of atomic nucleus is studied using the real-energy continuum shell model. It is shown that low-energy exceptional points appear for realistic values of coupling to the continuum and, hence, could be accessible experimentally. Experimental signatures are proposed which include the jump by $2\pi$ of the elastic scattering phase shift and a salient energy dependence of cross-sections in the vicinity of the exceptional point., Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures