Rotation-driven prolate-to-oblate shape phase transition in 190W: A projected shell model study

TL;DR

This study uses the Projected Shell Model to demonstrate a rotation-induced shape phase transition in 190W, shifting from prolate to oblate at high angular momentum, with proposed observables for experimental verification.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of the Projected Shell Model to identify a shape phase transition driven by rotation in 190W, surpassing mean-field limitations.

Findings

Shape transition from prolate to oblate at 10ħ angular momentum

Neutron i13/2 orbital alignment drives the transition

Proposes experimental observables to verify the transition

Abstract

A shape phase transition is demonstrated to occur in 190W by applying the Projected Shell Model, which goes beyond the usual mean-field approximation. Rotation alignment of neutrons in the high-j, i_{13/2} orbital drives the yrast sequence of the system, changing suddenly from prolate to oblate shape at angular momentum 10$\hbar$. We propose observables to test the picture.