Mass Ratios and Proton Pairing for Isotones with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> = 20, 50, and 82

Different estimates of the even–odd effect for the nuclear mass surface are discussed. The proton-number dependence of the energy gap is derived from the measured masses of the N = 20, 50, and 82 isotones with closed neutron shells. Its interrelation with the properties of external proton shells is demonstrated, and the effects of proton pairing are considered along with the microscopic nuclear structure.