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Reference | Abstract | Physics

NUCLEAR COLLECTIVITY IN THE Z~50 REGION

Heavy Ion Discussion Group - 27 January 2023

Marco Siciliano, Argonne National Laboratory

The study of nuclear shape and its evolution provides a deeper insight into the underlying nuclear structure: nuclear shape not only change as a function of neutron and proton number, but it varies also within the nucleus itself with the increasing excitation energy and angular momentum. Such an evolution allows us to investigate various aspects of nuclear interaction for different proton/neutron configurations. The Z~50 region provides the perfect test bench for nuclear properties. Here we can find the longest isotopic chains experimentally accessible in the whole nuclear chart, so nuclear shapes and their evolution can be systematically explored from very neutron-deficient to very neutron-rich species. Furthermore, the balance between effects caused by the vicinity of Z=50 proton-shell closure and a large number of valence neutrons gives rise to peculiar and exotic phenomena (e.g., shape coexistence, shell quenching, etc.). These advantageous conditions have led to frenetic experimental activity, mostly devoted to exploring nuclear collectivity via lifetime and Coulomb-excitation measurements. In this contribution, three studies of the Z~50 region will be discussed, showing preliminary results:

- Cadmium isotopes: vibrators or something else? Lifetime measurements and “unsafe” Coulomb excitation of light Cd

- Shape coexistence in 116Sn

- Nuclear shapes important for neutrinoless double-beta decay: Coulomb excitation of 130Te

Host: Ben Kay