In this paper we discuss in detail the
P(I)′s, angular momentum I probabilities in the ground states, of many-body systems interacting via a two-body random ensemble (TBRE). In particular, we extensively apply an approach introduced in an earlier paper and compare the predicted
P(I)′s with those obtained by diagonalizing a TBRE Hamiltonian. We begin with a few solvable cases, such as fermions in a small single-
j shell and d boson systems, where elegant agreements between the predicted
P(I)′s and those obtained by diagonalizing a TBRE Hamiltonian are achieved. We find that d boson systems systematically present counterexamples of angular momentum 0 ground state dominance when the number of d bosons is $6\ensuremath{\kappa}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$ with $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ a natural number, which suggests that certain fundamental symmetry (say, time reversal invariance) of the Hamiltonian cannot ensure the occurrence of angular momentum 0 ground state dominance. Next, we apply the same approach to more complicated cases, such as even or odd number of fermions in a large single-
j shell or a many-
j shell,
sd-boson or
sdg-boson systems, etc. We find that the simple approach proposed in an earlier paper is also well applicable, and thus it is a universal approach. The numerical experiments provide a guideline to tell which interactions are essential to produce a sizable
P(I) in a many-body system. This disproves a popular idea that the angular momentum 0 ground state (0 g.s.) dominance may be independent of two-body interactions. Some matrix elements which are useful to understand the observed regularities are given or addressed in detail. In this paper we also report a synchronous staggering between the 0 g.s. probabilities of even numbers of fermions in a single-
j shells and j g.s. probabilities of odd numbers of fermions in a single-
j shell when j is small. The low seniority chain of 0 g.s. using the same set of two-body interactions is confirmed, but it is noted that contribution to the total 0 g.s. probability beyond this chain may be more important for even numbers of fermions in a single-
j shell. Some interesting results taking a displaced two-body random ensemble are presented for the I ground state probabilities.
Recent calculations using random two-body interactions showed a preponderance of
JP=0+ ground states, despite the fact that there is no strong pairing character in the force. We carry out an analysis of a system of identical particles occupying orbits with
j=1/2, 3/2, and 5/2 and discuss some general features of the spectra derived from random two-body interactions. We show that for random two-body interactions that are not time-reversal invariant the dominance of
0+ states in this case is more pronounced, indicating that time-reversal invariance cannot be the origin of the
0+ dominance.
Low-lying states in nuclei are investigated using an ensemble of random interactions. Both in the nuclear shell model and in the interacting boson model we find a dominance of
JP=0+ ground states. It is shown that this feature is not due to time reversal symmetry. In the shell model, evidence is found for the occurrence of pairing properties, and in the interacting boson model for both vibrational and rotational band structures. Our results suggest that these features represent general and robust properties of the model space, and do not depend on details of the interactions.
Numerical simulations show that the ground state spin of a finite many-body system with random but rotationally invariant interactions is predominantly zero. This means that it is not sufficient to explain the zero ground state spin of even-even nuclei only by pairing correlations. Simple explanations based on a statistical multiplicity, width of the level density, effective pairing, formation of condensates etc. do not work. We suggest statistical theory based on the effective mean field and geometric chaoticity of angular momentum coupling of individual particles. The results show a significant role of symmetry arguments in finite systems.