Nuclear Giant Resonances and Linear Response

Abstract

We search for nonlinear effects in nuclear giant resonances (GRs), in particular the isovector dipole and the isoscalar quadrupole modes. To that end, we employ a spectral analysis of time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) dynamics using Skyrme forces. Based on TDHF calculations over a wide range of excitation amplitudes, we explore the collectivity and degree of harmonic motion in these modes. Both GR modes turn out to be highly harmonic in heavy nuclei from A=100 on. There is no trace of a transition to irregular motion and multiple resonances are predicted. Slight anharmonicities are seen for light nuclei, particularly for $^{16}$O. These are mainly caused by the spin-orbit splitting.