Shape Coexistence in 78 Ni and the new Island of Inversion

Large Scale Shell Model calculations (SM-CI) predict that the region of deformation which comprises the heaviest Chromium and Iron isotopes at and beyond N=40 will merge with a new one at N=50 in an astonishing parallel to the N=20 and N=28 case in the Neon and Magnesium isotopes. We propose a valence space including the full pf-shell for the protons and the full sdg shell for the neutrons; which represents a comeback of the the harmonic oscillator shells in the very neutron rich regime. The onset of deformation is understood in the framework of the algebraic SU3-like structures linked to quadrupole dominance. Our calculations preserve the doubly magic nature of the ground state of 78 Ni, which, however, exhibits a well deformed prolate band at low excitation energy, providing a striking example of shape coexistence far from stability

Quadrupole collectivity in Ca 42 from low-energy Coulomb excitation with AGATA

A Coulomb-excitation experiment to study electromagnetic properties of Ca42 was performed using a 170-MeV calcium beam from the TANDEM XPU facility at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. γ rays from excited states in Ca42 were measured with the AGATA spectrometer. The magnitudes and relative signs of ten E2 matrix elements coupling six low-lying states in Ca42, including the diagonal E2 matrix elements of 21+ and 22+ states, were determined using the least-squares code gosia. The obtained set of reduced E2 matrix elements was analyzed using the quadrupole sum rule method and yielded overall quadrupole deformation for 01,2+ and 21,2+ states, as well as triaxiality for 01,2+ states, establishing the coexistence of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca42. The experimental results were compared with the state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations, which reproduce well the general picture of shape coexistence in Ca42

Superdeformed and Triaxial States in Ca 42

Shape parameters of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in ^{42}Ca were determined from E2 matrix elements measured in the first low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed with AGATA. The picture of two coexisting structures is well reproduced by new state-of-the-art large-scale shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. Experimental evidence for superdeformation of the band built on 0_{2}^{+} has been obtained and the role of triaxiality in the A∼40 mass region is discussed. Furthermore, the potential of Coulomb excitation as a tool to study superdeformation has been demonstrated for the first time

Shell-model investigation of spectroscopic properties and collectivity in the nuclei beyond 132Sn^{132}\mathbf{Sn}

International audienceThe recent shell-model results of even-even chains of nuclei: Te134,136,138,Xe136,138,140,Ba138,140,142,Ce140,142,144, and Nd142,144,146 are explored in this manuscript. The low-lying states energies, E2 and M1 transitions, are investigated using the same effective interaction based on the realistic effective field theory potential N3LO. Significant quadrupole correlations appear in the N=86 isotonic chain, with the signature of nonaxial γband. This class of collectivity is interpreted within the SU(3) symmetries scheme and confirmed by constrained Hartree-Fock shell-model calculations

New excitations in 142^{142}Ba and 144^{144}Ce : Evolution of γ\gamma bands in the N=86 isotone

International audienceNew excited states in $^{142}$Ba and $^{144}$Ce are investigated by means of prompt $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy of the radiation following spontaneous fission of $^{252}$Cf. Measurements of angular correlations and the observed branchings allowed the assignment of spins and parities with confidence. The new measurements are reinforced by shell-model calculations where energy levels, electric transitions, and magnetic moments are consistent with experimental data. The presence of collectivity in the N=86 isotones is confirmed by clear signatures of soft triaxial γ bands in both nuclei

Structure of low-lying states in Sm-140 studied by Coulomb excitation

The electromagnetic structure of 140Sm was studied in a low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment with a radioactive ion beam from the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The 2+ and 4+ states of the ground-state band and a second 2+ state were populated by multistep excitation. The analysis of the differential Coulomb excitation cross sections yielded reduced transition probabilities between all observed states and the spectroscopic quadrupole moment for the 2+ 1 state. The experimental results are compared to large-scale shell model calculations and beyond-mean-field calculations based on the Gogny D1S interaction with a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian formalism. Simpler geometric and algebraic models are also employed to interpret the experimental data. The results indicate that 140Sm shows considerable γ softness, but in contrast to earlier speculation no signs of shape coexistence at low excitation energy. This work sheds more light on the onset of deformation and collectivity in this mass region.15 pages, 12 figuresstatus: publishe

Structure of low-lying states in Sm-140 studied by Coulomb excitation

The electromagnetic structure of Sm-140 was studied in a low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment with a radioactive ion beam from the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The 2(+) and 4(+) states of the ground-state band and a second 2(+) state were populated by multistep excitation. The analysis of the differential Coulomb excitation cross sections yielded reduced transition probabilities between all observed states and the spectroscopic quadrupole moment for the 2(1)(+) state. The experimental results are compared to large-scale shell model calculations and beyond-mean-field calculations based on the Gogny D1S interaction with a five-dimensional collective Hamiltonian formalism. Simpler geometric and algebraic models are also employed to interpret the experimental data. The results indicate that Sm-140 shows considerable. softness, but in contrast to earlier speculation no signs of shape coexistence at low excitation energy. This work sheds more light on the onset of deformation and collectivity in this mass region

Quadrupole collectivity in ⁴²Ca from low-energy Coulomb excitation with AGATA

International audienceA Coulomb-excitation experiment to study electromagnetic properties of Ca42 was performed using a 170-MeV calcium beam from the TANDEM XPU facility at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. γ rays from excited states in Ca42 were measured with the AGATA spectrometer. The magnitudes and relative signs of ten E2 matrix elements coupling six low-lying states in Ca42, including the diagonal E2 matrix elements of 21+ and 22+ states, were determined using the least-squares code gosia. The obtained set of reduced E2 matrix elements was analyzed using the quadrupole sum rule method and yielded overall quadrupole deformation for 01,2+ and 21,2+ states, as well as triaxiality for 01,2+ states, establishing the coexistence of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca42. The experimental results were compared with the state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations, which reproduce well the general picture of shape coexistence in Ca42