Problem with shell model and magnetic moment of Lithium-6

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of the magnetic moment of Lithium-6 (Li-6) using the shell model. Participants explore the contributions of protons and neutrons to the magnetic moment, addressing discrepancies between calculated and experimental values. The conversation includes technical reasoning and challenges related to the application of the shell model in odd-odd nuclei.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates the magnetic moment of Li-6 using specific values for the proton and neutron's g-factors and spin, arriving at a total that exceeds the known experimental value.
  • Another participant challenges the initial calculation, asserting that the proton's magnetic moment should be 2.79 instead of 3.79, but does not clarify the source of their values.
  • A later reply emphasizes the importance of including the neutron's J value in the calculations, suggesting that both the proton and neutron should be treated consistently in terms of their contributions.
  • One participant references a source that discusses the limitations of the shell model for odd-odd nuclei, suggesting that interconfiguration mixing must be considered for accurate predictions.
  • Another participant questions the treatment of the neutron's g-factor, arguing that it should not be zero and that the signs of the g-factors for protons and neutrons must be accounted for in the calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correct values for the magnetic moments and the treatment of the neutron's contributions. There is no consensus on the correct approach or values to use in the calculations, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential limitations in the assumptions made regarding the g-factors and the treatment of J values, as well as the implications of interconfiguration mixing in the shell model for odd-odd nuclei.

bznm
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I have a problem with the calculus of magnetic moment of Li-6.

The configuration of protons is 1p_{3/2}, and the neutrons' one is the same.

I have to add the magnetic moment of uncoupled proton and uncoupled neutron.

I use the following formula for J=l+\frac{1}{2} (J is the particle spin):
\frac{\mu}{\mu_N}=g_lJ+\frac{g_s-g_l}{2}

For the proton I have: g_l=1; g_s=5.58 \rightarrow \frac{\mu}{\mu_N}=J+2.29=3.79

For the neutron I have: g_l=0; g_s=-3.82 \rightarrow \frac{\mu}{\mu_N}=-1.91

So the total \frac{\mu}{\mu_N}=3.79-1.91=1.88, exactly 1 more than the correct value, 0.88!
What's wrong?
 
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Your value for the proton's magnetic moment is off by 1: it should be 2.79, not 3.79. Not sure where you are getting the values you are using to calculate it.
 
PeterDonis said:
Your value for the proton's magnetic moment is off by 1: it should be 2.79, not 3.79. Not sure where you are getting the values you are using to calculate it.

It was told me that the proton's magnetic moment is 2,79 but, when I consider a proton in the nucleus, I have to consider the proton's J value.

In this case, the proton's J is 3/2 and, if you insert this value in the formula, you obtain 3.79.
 
Li-6 is an odd-odd nucleus, and therefore the magnetic moments predicted by the shell model are not in complete agreement with experiment.

Quoting from Preston, "Physics of the Nucleus", p323:

"Turning to odd-odd nuclides, the shell model would suggest simply adding the magnetic moments due to proton and neutron configurations, ignoring any interaction between the unfilled neutron and proton shells, except perhaps in the light nuclei in which neutrons and protons are filling the same shells and i-spin is a good quantum number. It may be argued that, in this latter case, the neutrons and protons have precisely the same spatial motion and orientation but g-factors of opposite sign, and therefore the corrections to their free-particle g-values are roughly equal and opposite. Hence, despite the occurrence of interconfiguration mixing and quenching the free-nucleon g-factors can be used, and μ is just the sum of the neutron and proton moments of the extreme single-particle model. For nuclides in which neutrons and protons are filling different shells, it would seem appropriate to take the values of gp and gn from neighboring odd nuclides, thus allowing for interconfiguration mixing. This works quite well, and whenever the value gemp obtained from empirical g's differs from gsp obtained from free-nucleon g's, the observed value is always much nearer gemp. Some cases are shown in Table 12-1, where both μemp and μsp are calculated from the following formula, the only difference being the g-values used:

\mu = \frac{1}{2}\left[(g_p + g_n) + (g_p - g_n)\frac{j_p(j_p + 1) - j_n(j_n + 1)}{J + 1}\right]

The table entry for Li-6 has μsp = 0.6, μemp = 0.4 and μobs = 0.8.

The conclusion which can be derived from our discussion is that, for the nearly spherical nuclei, which we have mainly considered, magnetic-moment values are consistent with the shell model, but it is essential to include interconfiguration mixing in the ground state."

(BTW, I think it would have been appropriate for you to mention that you were simultaneously posting this same question to both PF and stackexchange!)
 
Last edited:
bznm said:
In this case, the proton's J is 3/2

But the neutron's J is 3/2 as well, correct? If you're going to include the J term, it seems to me that you should include it for both the proton and the neutron; i.e., I don't see why you have ##g_l = 0## for the neutron. (And if you include both, as the quote Bill_K posted points out, you have to consider the sign as well; if the neutron's ##g_l## is opposite in sign to the proton's, the two J terms cancel each other.)
 

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