An investigation of the odd-A rare-earth nuclei using rotational models

Using recently compiled data for band-head energies of 53 odd-A rare-earth nuclei, rotational models for strongly deformed nuclei have been used to determine the variation of deformations, spin-orbit parameter κ and the l² parameter, μ, in these nuclei. The deformation is found to be consistent with experimental deformations within 20 %. The spin-orbit parameter, κ, is found to vary from 0.037 up to 0.070, a 25 % variation from Nilsson's 0.050. The l² parameter μ is found to vary from 0.30 up to 0.71, a 30 % variation from Nilsson's 0.45. The trends observed in the values of spin-orbit strength C indicate a correlation with deformation, δ. Simultaneous shifts of the l² strength D for neutron numbers 95–97 and 101–103 may be interpreted as a sudden shift in the squareness of the potential well possibly caused by shell filling. Inclusion of hexadecapole deformation greatly improves the band-head energies for the mass region 150 ≦ A ≦ 165.