Theoretical Study on N = 126 Shell Evolution

The nuclei around magic number N = 126 are investigated in the deformed relativistic mean field (RMF) model with effective interactions TMA. We focus investigations on the N = 126 isotonic chain. The N = 126 shell evolution is studied by analyzing the variations of two-neutron (proton) separation energies, quadruple deformations, single particle levels etc. The good agreement of two-neutron separation energies between experimental data and calculated values is reached. The RMF theory predicts that the sizes of N = 126 shell become smaller and smaller with the increasing of proton number Z. However, the N = 126 shell exists in our calculated region all along. According to the calculated two-proton separation energies, the RMF theory suggests ²²⁰Pu is a two-proton drip-line nucleus in the N = 126 isotonic chain.