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Physical Review

Conservation of Particle Number in the Nuclear Pairing Model

Klaus Dietrich, Hans J. Mang, J. Pradal

Published Jul 13, 1964• 194 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The Euler-Lagrange equations corresponding to a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer state that is an eigenstate of the number operator are derived and solved numerically for a $\ensuremath{\delta}$ interaction. The errors due to the nonconservation of particle number in the usual Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory are studied as a function of particle number, level density, and strength of the pairing interaction. A proof is given that for attractive pairing interactions the lowest energy solution corresponds always to real positive probability amplitudes ${v}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$, ${u}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$.

DOI
10.1103/physrev.135.b22

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The Euler-Lagrange equations corresponding to a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer state that is an eigenstate of the number operator are derived and solved numerically for a \ensuremathδ\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremathδ interaction. The errors due to the nonconservation of particle number in the usual Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory are studied as a function of particle number, level density, and strength of the pairing interaction. A proof is given that for attractive pairing interactions the lowest energy solution corresponds always to real positive probability amplitudes v\ensuremathν{v}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}v\ensuremathν​, u\ensuremathν{u}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}u\ensuremathν​.
Exact eigenstates of the pairing-force Hamiltonian have been calculated for 2N2N2N particles in 2N2N2N equispaced, doubly degenerate single-particle levels for N=4,8,12,and16N=4, 8, 12, \mathrm{and} 16N=4,8,12,and16. The states calculated are the ground state and the first two excited seniority-zero and seniority-two states. These states were calculated for values of the interaction strength that give pairing energies that are typical of nuclear systems. Numerical results are given for the energies and occupation probabilities of these states and are compared with the corresponding results of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory. It is shown that the BCS theory is a worse approximation for the larger values of NNN than it is for the smaller values, with errors as high as 140% (20%) for the excitation energies of the seniority-zero (-two) states. The methods used in the calculation of these states are outlined.
We formulate a new Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS)-type theory at finite temperature, by deriving a set of variational equations of the free energy after the particle-number projection. With its broad applicability, this theory can be a useful tool for investigating the pairing phase transition in finite systems with the particle-number conservation. This theory provides effects of the symmetry-restoring fluctuation (SRF) for the pairing phenomena in finite fermionic systems, distinctively from those of additional quantum fluctuations. It is shown by numerical calculations that the phase transition is compatible with the conservation in this theory, and that the SRF shifts up the critical temperature (Tcr{T}^{\mathrm{cr}}Tcr). This shift of Tcr{T}^{\mathrm{cr}}Tcr occurs due to reduction of degrees-of-freedom in canonical ensembles, and decreases only slowly as the particle-number increases (or as the level spacing narrows), in contrast to the conventional BCS theory.
This Letter provides the solution to a yet unsolved basic problem of Solid State Physics: the ground state energy of an arbitrary number of Cooper pairs interacting via the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer potential. We here break a 50 year old math problem by analytically solving Richardson-Gaudin equations which give the exact energy of these NNN pairs via NNN parameters coupled through NNN non-linear equations. Our result fully supports the standard BCS result obtained for a pair number equal to half the number of states feeling the potential. More importantly, it shows that the interaction part of the NNN-pair energy depends on NNN as N(N−1)N(N-1)N(N−1) only from N=1 to the dense regime, a result which evidences that Cooper pairs interact via Pauli blocking only.
A new microscopic theory for nuclear pairing is proposed through the generalized density matrix formalism. Instead of the variation principle, we start from the Heisenberg equations of motion for density matrix operators ${K}_{12}\ensuremath{\equiv}{a}_{2}{a}_{1}$. The theory generalizes the well-known particle-particle random-phase approximation. Its analytical equations are as simple as that of the BCS theory and can be solved within a similar computer time if the model space is not too large. The current theory conserves the exact particle number and is valid at arbitrary pairing strength (including those below the BCS critical strength). It is also of interest to other mesoscopic systems such as ultrasmall metallic grains.