Shape evolution for Sm isotopes in relativistic mean-field theory

The evolution of shape from the spherical to the axially deformed shapes in the Sm isotopes is investigated microscopically in relativistic mean-field theory. The microscopic and self-consistent quadrupole deformation constrained relativistic mean-field calculations show a clear shape change for the even-even Sm isotopes with N = 82-96. The potential surfaces for ¹⁴⁸Sm, ¹⁵⁰Sm and ¹⁵²Sm are found to be relatively flat, which may be the possible critical-point nuclei. By examining the single-particle spectra and nearest-neighbor spacing distribution of the single-particle levels, one finds that the single-particle levels in ¹⁴⁸Sm , ¹⁵⁰Sm, and ¹⁵²Sm distribute more uniformly.     

Phonon–particle coupling effects in the single-particle energies of semi-magic nuclei

A method is presented to evaluate the particle–phonon coupling (PC) corrections to the single-particle energies in semi-magic nuclei. In such nuclei, always there is a collective low-lying 2⁺ phonon, and a strong mixture of single-particle and particle–phonon states often occurs. As in magic nuclei the so-called g _L ² approximation, where g _L is the vertex of the L-phonon creation, can be used for finding the PC correction δΣ^PC(ε) to the initial mass operator Σ₀. In addition to the usual pole diagram, the phonon “tadpole” diagram is also taken into account. In semi-magic nuclei, the perturbation theory in δΣ^PC(ε) with respect to Σ₀ is often invalid for finding the PC-corrected single-particle energies. Instead, the Dyson equation with the mass operator Σ(ε) = Σ₀ + δΣ^PC(ε) is solved directly, without any use of the perturbation theory. Results for a chain of semi-magic Pb isotopes are presented.     

Quantum Monte Carlo calculation for the neutron-rich Ca isotopes

We computed ground-state energies of calcium isotopes from ⁴²Ca to ⁴⁸Ca by means of the Auxiliary Field Diffusion Monte Carlo (AFDMC) method. Calculations were performed by replacing the ⁴⁰Ca core with a mean-field self-consistent potential computed using the Skyrme interaction. The energy of the external neutrons is calculated by projecting the ground state from a wave function built with the single-particle orbitals computed in the self-consistent external potential. The shells considered were the 1F _7/2 and the 1F _5/2 . The Hamiltonian employed is semi-realistic and includes tensor, spin-orbit and three-body forces. While absolute binding energies are too deep if compared with experimental data, the differences between the energies for nearly all isotopes are in very good agreement with the experimental data.     

Constrained relativistic mean-field approach with fixed configurations

A diabatic (configuration-fixed) constrained approach to calculate the potential energy surface (PES) of the nucleus is developed in the relativistic mean-field model. As an example, the potential energy surfaces of ²⁰⁸Pb obtained from both adiabatic and diabatic constrained approaches are investigated and compared. It is shown that the diabatic constrained approach enables one to decompose the segmented PES obtained in usual adiabatic approaches into separate parts uniquely characterized by different configurations, to follow the evolution of single-particle orbits till the very deformed region, and to obtain several well-defined deformed excited states which can hardly be expected from the adiabatic PESs.     

Shell model structures in the N = 46 isotones 86Zr, 87Nb, 88Mo, 89Tc, 90Ru and 91Rh

The known level energies, electromagnetic moments and decay probabilities of high-spin states in the N = 46 isotones ⁸⁶Zr, ⁸⁷Nb, ⁸⁸Mo, ⁸⁹Tc, and ⁹⁰Ru are interpreted within the shell model. The single-particle space was truncated to the p _1/2 and g _9/2 orbits (relative to the ⁸⁸Sr core) and the single-particle energies and empirical two-body matrix elements derived by Gross and Frenkel were used in the calculations. Based on the generally good success of this approach, energies and decay properties of the yrast spectra in ⁹⁰Ru and ⁹¹Rh are predicted. Received: 31 July 2000 / Accepted: 18 December 2000     

Stable collective triaxial rotation in <Superscript>77</Superscript>Kr

Based on the γ -spectroscopic analysis of G.N. Sylvan et al., configuration-dependent cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations have been performed. They describe the nucleus ⁷⁷Kr globally in good agreement with the experimental findings and the expectations derived from single-particle orbitals in a deformed potential. Within these calculations, the unambiguous assignment of a configuration with three protons and five neutrons in the g _9/2 shell to the high-spin Yrast states of negative parity indicates that the nucleus ⁷⁷Kr has stable triaxial deformation and rotates about the intermediate axis. This not only disproves the recent interpretation of an occupation of the d _5/2 orbital being responsible for the strong deformation in this band, but also represents one of the first examples in this mass region for such a rotation.     

Gamow-Teller beta decay of the very neutron-deficientN=50 nuclide98Cd

For the first time, detailed decay-spectroscopic investigations were performed for the very neutron-deficientN=50 nuclide⁹⁸Cd. The⁹⁸Cd activity was produced in spallation reactions between 600 MeV protons and a natural tin target, yielding a⁹⁸Cd beam intensity of 10 to 60 atoms/s at the collector of the ISOLDE massseparator. By means of-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy, 19 transitions were found to follow the ⁺/EC decay⁹⁸Cd⁹⁸Ag. The transitions at 61 and 107 keV were shown to beM1(+E2) andE2, respectively, and the⁹⁸Cd half-life was measured as 9.2±0.3 s. TheQ _EC value of⁹⁸Cd is determined semiempirically and is compared to model predictions together with the measuredQ _EC values of the neighbouring cadmium isotopes^100,102Cd and theN=50 isotones⁹²Mo,⁹⁴Ru, and⁹⁶Pd, taken from the literature. The newly established decay scheme of⁹⁸Cd includes 9 excited states of⁹⁸Ag. Four states at 1691, 1861, 2164, and 2544 keV are directly fed by 0⁺ 1⁺ Gamow-Teller beta transitions with a summed strength of 3.5 _–0.7 ^+0.8 . This value corresponds to 25±5% of the strength predicted for the GT transformation of a g_9/2 proton (in⁹⁸Cd) into a g_7/2 neutron (in⁹⁸Ag) by the extreme single-particle shell model. The GT-strength splitting and quenching, observed for⁹⁸Cd, are compared with the corresponding data for lighter even-even N=50 isotones, and are discussed with reference to the predictions of more sophisticated nuclear models. We find that only in some cases it is possible to explain qualitatively the observed GT strength distribution and its total magnitude without renormalizing the free-neutron value of the axial-vector coupling constant.Dedicated to Prof. P. Armbruster on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Magic gaps and intruder levels in triaxially superdeformed nuclei

Nuclear shell model calculations based on a modified harmonic-oscillator potential result in amazingly stable triaxial nuclear shapes. Major gaps in the single-particle energy spectra at proton number 71 and neutron number 94 combine constructively at low and intermediate rotational frequencies. At high frequencies, gaps at proton number 72 and neutron number 97 combine in an equally favourable way. The sizes of the gaps may be as large as 35% of the values for the gaps at the classical magic numbers 50 and 82 at spherical shape. The dependence on the positions of the intruder levels in forming the gaps is discussed. Experimentally observed rotational bands in lutetium (Z = 71) and hafnium (Z = 72) appear in isotopes and frequency ranges, which are consistent with the gaps in the theoretical single-particle energy spectra.     

Combinatorial nuclear level densities based on the Gogny nucleon-nucleon effective interaction

A combinatorial method to calculate total level densities from an arbitrary single-particle level scheme is presented. Parity, angular momentum, pairing correlations as well as collective enhancements are explicitly treated. This method is employed using single-particle level schemes obtained from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations based on the Gogny effective interaction. Sixty five even-even nuclei with masses 26 ?A? 250 are considered. Rather good agreements are obtained when comparing our predictions with experimental data for energies of the order of the neutron binding energies and for low excitation energies where discrete levels are experimentally observed. Received: 13 February 2001 / Accepted: 24 September 2001     

Phonon–particle coupling effects in odd–even double mass differences of semi-magic nuclei

A method is developed to consider the particle–phonon coupling (PC) effects in the calculation of the odd–even double mass differences (DMD) in semi-magic nuclei starting from the free NN potential. The PC correction δΣ^PC to the mass operator Σ is found in g _L ²-approximation, g _L being the vertex of creating the L-phonon. The tadpole term of the operator δΣ^PC is taken into account. The method is based on a direct, without any use of the perturbation theory, solution of the Dyson equation with the mass operator Σ(ε) = Σ₀ + δΣ^PC(ε) for finding the single-particle energies and Z-factors. In its turn, they are used as an input for finding different PC corrections to the DMD values. Results for a chain of even semi-magic nuclei ^200?206Pb show that the inclusion of the PC corrections makes agreement with the experimental data significantly better.     

Microscopic study of yrast bands and backbending anomaly in 78-82Kr isotopes

The yrast spectra of ^78-82Kr are studied by using the projected shell model (PSM) approach. The energy states are obtained by taking oblate as well as prolate quadrupole deformations for ^78-82Kr. The structure of yrast states and backbending phenomena are investigated. The theoretical results predict low-lying states in ^{78, 82}Kr to be oblate and coexistence of oblate-prolate shapes for ⁸⁰Kr. The B(E2) transition probabilities and g-factors are obtained and compared with the available experimental data.     

Low-lying magnetic dipole strength distribution in the γ-soft even-even 130-136Ba

In this study the scissors mode 1⁺ states are systematically investigated within the rotational invariant Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation (QRPA) for ^130-136Ba isotopes. We consider the 1⁺ vibrations generated by the isovector spin-spin interactions and the isoscalar and isovector quadrupole-type separable forces restoring the broken symmetry by a deformed mean field according to A.A. Kuliev et al. (Int. J. Mod. Phys. E 9, 249 (2000)). It has been shown that the restoration of the broken rotational symmetry of the Hamiltonian essentially decreases the B(M1) value of the low-lying 1⁺ states and increases the collectivization of the scissors mode excitations in the spectroscopic energy region. The agreement between the calculated mean excitation energies as well as the summed B(M1) value of the scissors mode excitations and the available experimental data of ¹³⁴Ba and ¹³⁶Ba is rather good. A destructive interference between the orbit and spin part of the M1 strength has been found for barium isotopes near the shell closer. For all the nuclei under investigation, the low-lying M1 transitions have ΔK = 1 character as it is the case for the well-deformed nuclei.     

Quadrupole moment measurement of the highly deformed πg 9/2⊗νh 11/2 band in 130Pr

The quadrupole moment for the πg _9/2⊗νh _11/2 band in the ^130>Pr nucleus has been measured using the Doppler-shift attenuation method. A centroid shift analysis was carried out and a value of Q₀=6.1±0.4 eb, corresponding to an axial prolate deformation of β₂=0.35(3), has been determined. This is the first direct experimental confirmation of the deformation-driving character of the πg _9/2 orbital in an odd-odd nucleus in the A≃135 superdeformed region. Received: 23 April 1998     

New experimental results in proton radioactivity

A review of experimental data obtained recently on proton-radioactive nuclei is presented. The highlights include the observation of fine structure in proton emission, for the decays of ¹³¹Eu, ¹⁴⁵Tm and ¹⁴⁶Tm, and the studies of the excited states in proton-emitting nuclei. The observation limits are extended to few nanobarns cross-sections ( ¹⁴⁰Ho, ¹⁶⁴Ir and ¹³⁰Eu) and few microsecond half-lives (e.g., ¹⁴⁵Tm). Measured decay properties for thirty-nine proton-emitting ground and isomeric states contributed to the understanding of nuclear masses and evolution of single-particle states at and beyond the proton drip line. Experimental results have stimulated new theoretical approaches to proton emission and the structure of unbound narrow resonance states. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: rykaczew@phy.ornl.gov     

Partial widths for the decays η:(1295) →γγ and η:(1440) →γγ

We discuss γγ partial widths of pseudoscalar/isoscalar mesons η:(M) in the mass region M∼ 1000–1500 MeV. The transition amplitudes η:(1295) →γγ and η:(1440) →γγ are studied within an assumption that the decaying mesons are the members of the first radial excitation nonet 2¹ S ₀qˉq. The calculations show that partial widths being of the order of 0.1 keV are dominantly due to the nˉn meson component while the contribution of the sˉs component is small. Received: 24 September 1999     

The 3701 keV neutron g 9/2 single-particle state in 57Ni

The neutron g _9/2 single-particle state in ⁵⁷Ni has been unambiguously identified in a combined measurement of the linear polarization, angular distribution, and angular correlation of γ rays following the fusion-evaporation reaction ²⁸Si(³²S,2pn)⁵⁷Ni at a beam energy of 90 MeV. The linear polarization was measured with a Euroball cluster detector and a prototype of an encapsulated six-fold segmented hexaconical Ge-detector. The spin of the 3701 keV level in ⁵⁷Ni was confirmed to be I= 9/2 and its parity determined to be positive. Received: 24 September 1999 / Revised version: 22 October 1999     

Energy dependence of the isotopic effect in the (n,p) reaction on the germanium isotopes

Cross sections for^70,72,73,74Ge(n, p)^70,72,73,74Ga,⁷⁰Ge(n, 2n)⁶⁹Ge,⁷²Ge (n,)⁶⁹Zn ^m and⁷⁴Ge(n, )⁷¹Zn ^m reactions are measured in the energy range from 13.0 to 16.6 MeV by the activation method using Ge(Li) detector-ray spectroscopy and compared with predictions of the reaction model incorporating preequilibrium and equilibrium emission mechanisms to interpret the energy dependence of the isotopic effect occuring in the (n, p) reaction. The fitted single-particle state-density parametersg, determined here for the germaniums are discussed together with theg-values found previously for the Se, Zr and Pd isotopic chains. A validity of the consistency condition between the precompound and compound models, which relatesg to the experimental level-density parametera viaa= ² g/6 is demonstrated.     

Beta decay of 94Pd and of the 71 s isomer of 94Rh

The β decay of ⁹⁴Pd and of the 71s isomer of ⁹⁴Rh was investigated by using total γ-ray absorption techniques. Several levels in ⁹⁴Rh are established, including a new low-lying isomer characterized by a half-life of 0.48(3)μs and a de-exciting transition of 55keV. E2 multipolarity is determined for this transition by measuring the intensities of its γ-rays and the characteristic X-rays from its electron conversion. On the basis of the measured reduced β-decay transition rates to known ⁹⁴Ru levels and shell model considerations, the spin-parity of the 71s and the 0.48μs isomers of ⁹⁴Rh is assigned to be (4⁺) and (2⁺), respectively. The β-decay strength distributions measured for ⁹⁴Pd and the 71s isomer of ⁹⁴Rh yield Q _EC values of 6700(320) and 9750(320)keV for these decays and give evidence for the population of those states below and above the magic N = 50 gap that belong to both components of the 0g spin-orbit doublet.     

Rotational bands in 169Re

Based on the systematic investigation of the data available for nuclei with A≥ 40, a Z ^1/3-dependence for the nuclear charge radii is shown to be superior to the generally accepted A ^1/3 law. A delicate scattering of data around R _c/Z ^1/3 is inferred as owing to the isospin effect and a linear dependence of R _c/Z ^1/3 on N/Z (or (N - Z)/2) is found. This inference is well supported by the microscopic Relativistic Continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) calculation conducted for the proton magic Ca, Ni, Zr, Sn and Pb isotopes including the exotic nuclei close to the neutron drip line. With the linear isospin dependence provided by the data and RCHB theory, a new isospin-dependent Z ^1/3 formula for the nuclear charge radii is proposed. Received: 23 September 2001 / Accepted: 21 January 2002