Energy traps in atomic nuclei

Abstract

A small proportion of atomic nuclei can form highly excited metastable states, or isomers. Of particular interest is a class of isomers found in deformed axially symmetric nuclei; these isomers are among the longest-lived and have the potential to reach the highest energies. By probing their properties, insights into nuclear structure have been gained. The possibility of stimulated isomer decay may ultimately lead to new forms of energy storage and g-ray lasers.

Isomeric mirror states as probes for effective charges in the lower pf shell

“…This concerns mostly the isovector components of the effective charges, which seemingly differ for nuclei near 56 Ni, e (1) pol ∼ 0.35 [44], 48 Ca, e (1) pol ∼ 0 [45], and 40 Ca, e (1) pol ∼ 0.15 (present study). Whether or not extended radii of protons in valence orbitals of states in nuclei near the proton dripline are crucial to include in these investigations remains to be seen.…”

“…The values e p ∼ 1.35 and e n ∼ 0.65 imply isoscalar e (0) pol ∼ 0.50 and isovector e (1) pol ∼ 0.15 charges, the latter being similar to the one derived in section 4.1 but different from the values indicated in [44,45]. Note that the PV method provides an improved description of the B(E2; 19/2 − → 15/2 − ) rate in 43 Ti and, consequently, the ratio of the decay strengths of the corresponding A = 43 mirror states.…”

“…Isomeric or metastable states have been and continue to be valuable sources for probing nuclear structure models [1]. In many cases they provide the first profound glimpse of excited states in nuclei far from the line of β-stability and thus pave the way for further, more comprehensive studies at the edge of nuclear existence.…”

Bands and Isomers in Neutron-Rich Rare-Earth Nuclei in PHF Model

“…These can be useful in the modelling of the formation of neutron-rich nuclei in this region [3]. Besides deformation and the associated rotational bands long lived K isomers are important features of the rare-earth and other heavy nuclei [4,5]. Here we study the rotational bands and K isomers of some neutron-rich Gd and Dy nuclei and their properties using deformed Hartree-Fock and J projection theories.…”

High-spin states populated in deep-inelastic reactions

“…noncollective, states. Such states compete with the collective excitations because the proton and neutron Fermi levels are among orbitals with large angular-momentum projections (Ω) on the symmetry axis, allowing states with large values of K = ΣΩ to be formed [3]. As part of a systematic study of the mass A≈180-190 nuclei, some new results on the stable 188,190 Os nuclei, obtained by using binary reactions, are presented in this paper.…”