Proton-neutron alignment in the yrast states of 66^{66}Ge and 68^{68}Ge

The $^{66}$Ge and $^{68}$Ge nuclei are studied by means of the shell model with the extended $P+QQ$ Hamiltonian, which succeeds in reproducing experimentally observed energy levels, moments of inertia and other properties. The investigation using the reliable wave-functions predicts T=0, J=9 one-proton-one-neutron ($1p1n$) alignment in the $g_{9/2}$ orbit, at high spins ($14_1^+$, $16_1^+$ and $18_1^+$) in these $N \approx Z$ even-even nuclei. It is shown that a series of the even-$J$ positive-parity yrast states (observed up to $26_1^+$ for $^{68}$Ge) consists of the ground-state band and successive three bands with different types of particle alignments (two-neutron, $1p1n$, two-proton-two-neutron) in the $g_{9/2}$ orbit.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Pyhs. Rev.

Shape transition and oblate-prolate coexistence in N=Z fpg-shell nuclei

Nuclear shape transition and oblate-prolate coexistence in $N=Z$ nuclei are investigated within the configuration space ($2p_{3/2}$, $1f_{5/2}$, $2p_{1/2}$, and $1g_{9/2}$). We perform shell model calculations for $^{60}$Zn, $^{64}$Ge, and $^{68}$Se and constrained Hartree-Fock (CHF) calculations for $^{60}$Zn, $^{64}$Ge, $^{68}$Se, and $^{72}$Kr, employing an effective pairing plus quadrupole residual interaction with monopole interactions. The shell model calculations reproduce well the experimental energy levels of these nuclei. From the analysis of potential energy surface in the CHF calculations, we found shape transition from prolate to oblate deformation in these $N=Z$ nuclei and oblate-prolate coexistence at $^{68}$Se. The ground state of $^{68}$Se has oblate shape, while the shape of $^{60}$Zn and $^{64}$Ge are prolate. It is shown that the isovector matrix elements between $f_{5/2}$ and $p_{1/2}$ orbits cause the oblate deformation for $^{68}$Se, and four-particle four-hole ($4p-4h$) excitations are important for the oblate configuration.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Extrapolation method in shell model calculations with deformed basis

An extrapolation method in shell model calculations with deformed basis is presented, which uses a scaling property of energy and energy variance for a series of systematically approximated wave functions to the true one. Such approximated wave functions are given by variation-after-projection method concerning the full angular momentum projection. This extrapolation needs energy variance, which amounts to the calculation of expectation value of square of Hamiltonian $\hat{H}^2$. We present the method to evaluate this matrix element and show that large reduction of its numerical computation can be done by taking an advantage of time-reversal symmetry. The numerical tests are presented for $fp$ shell calculations with a realistic residual interaction.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Particle alignments and shape change in 66^{66}Ge and 68^{68}Ge

The structure of the $N \approx Z$ nuclei $^{66}$Ge and $^{68}$Ge is studied by the shell model on a spherical basis. The calculations with an extended $P+QQ$ Hamiltonian in the configuration space ($2p_{3/2}$, $1f_{5/2}$, $2p_{1/2}$, $1g_{9/2}$) succeed in reproducing experimental energy levels, moments of inertia and $Q$ moments in Ge isotopes. Using the reliable wave functions, this paper investigates particle alignments and nuclear shapes in $^{66}$Ge and $^{68}$Ge. It is shown that structural changes in the four sequences of the positive- and negative-parity yrast states with even $J$ and odd $J$ are caused by various types of particle alignments in the $g_{9/2}$ orbit. The nuclear shape is investigated by calculating spectroscopic $Q$ moments of the first and second $2^+$ states, and moreover the triaxiality is examined by the constrained Hatree-Fock method. The changes of the first band crossing and the nuclear deformation depending on the neutron number are discussed.Comment: 18 pages, 21 figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Novel Extrapolation Method in the Monte Carlo Shell Model

We propose an extrapolation method utilizing energy variance in the Monte Carlo shell model in order to estimate the energy eigenvalue and observables accurately. We derive a formula for the energy variance with deformed Slater determinants, which enables us to calculate the energy variance efficiently. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated for the full $pf$-shell calculation of $^{56}$Ni, and the applicability of the method to a system beyond current limit of exact diagonalization is shown for the $pf$+$g_{9/2}$-shell calculation of $^{64}$Ge.Comment: 4 pages, 4figure