Skyrme RPA for spherical and axially symmetric nuclei (1510.01248v4)

Abstract: Random Phase Approximation (RPA) is the basic method for calculation of excited states of nuclei over the Hartree-Fock ground state, suitable also for energy density functionals (EDF or DFT). We developed a convenient formalism for expressing densities and currents in a form of reduced matrix elements, which allows fast calculation of spectra for spherical nuclei. All terms of Skyrme functional were taken into account, so it is possible to calculate electric, magnetic and vortical/toroidal/compression transitions and strength functions of any multipolarity. Time-odd (spin) terms in Skyrme functional become important for magnetic M1 and isovector toroidal E1 transitions. It was also found that transition currents in pygmy region (low-lying part of E1 resonance) exhibit isoscalar toroidal flow, so the previously assumed picture of neutron-skin vibration is not the only mechanism present in pygmy transitions. RPA calculations with heavy axially-symmetric nuclei now become feasible on ordinary PC. Detailed formulae for axial Skyrme RPA are given. Some numerical results are shown in comparison with the approximate approach of separable RPA, previously developed in our group for fast calculation of strength functions.