Superdeformed states in light N=Z nuclei are studied by means of the
self-consistent cranking calculation (i.e., the P + QQ model based on the
cranked Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method). Analyses are given for two typical
cases of superdeformed bands in the A≃40 mass region, that is, bands
where backbending is absent (40Ca) and present (36Ar). Investigations
are carried out, particularly for the following points: cross-shell excitations
in the sd and pf shells; the role of the g9/2 and d5/2 orbitals; the
effect of the nuclear pairing; and the interplay between triaxiality and band
termination.Comment: 17 pages, 18 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev.