Abstract
In the rapid shape change from spherical to deformed nuclei in the Zr isotopic chain, recent work has identified shape coexistence in . Between and the strongly deformed is expected to also exhibit coexistence of nuclear shapes. The degree of mixing between different configurations is mainly determined by the nucleon-nucleon interactions. For nuclear model predictions, experimental constraints are needed, but they are barely available for . To study low-lying transitions in , a Coulomb excitation experiment was conducted at the Argonne Tandem-Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility using a beam extracted from the Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) ion source and Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array (GRETINA) for -ray spectroscopy coupled to the compact heavy ion counter (CHICO2) for ion detection. This paper reports on the first decisive deduction of the transition strength in and on its interpretation.
- Received 16 February 2018
- Revised 3 June 2018
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.98.041302
©2018 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Synopsis
Changing the Shape of a Zirconium Nucleus
Published 16 October 2018
As zirconium gains neutrons, its nucleus morphs in shape—changing from a soccer ball to an American football—and researchers have found the exact moment of the transition.
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