Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of A=8 nuclei

We report quantum Monte Carlo calculations of ground and low-lying excited states for A=8 nuclei using a realistic Hamiltonian containing the Argonne v{sub 18} two-nucleon and Urbana IX three-nucleon potentials. The calculations begin with correlated eight-body wave functions that have a filled {alpha}-like core and four p-shell nucleons LS coupled to the appropriate (J{sup {pi}};T) quantum numbers for the state of interest. After optimization, these variational wave functions are used as input to a Green's function Monte Carlo calculation made with a new constrained path algorithm. We find that the Hamiltonian produces a {sup 8}Be ground state that is within 2 MeV of the experimental resonance, but the other eight-body energies are progressively worse as the neutron-proton asymmetry increases. The {sup 8}Li ground state is stable against breakup into subclusters, but the {sup 8}He ground state is not. The excited state spectra are in fair agreement with experiment, with both the single-particle behavior of {sup 8}He and {sup 8}Li and the collective rotational behavior of {sup 8}Be being reproduced. We also examine energy differences in the T=1,2 isomultiplets and isospin-mixing matrix elements in the excited states of {sup 8}Be. Finally, we present densities, momentum distributions, and studies of the intrinsicmore » shapes of these nuclei, with {sup 8}Be exhibiting a definite 2{alpha} cluster structure. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.« less