Determining the Energy Barrier for Decay out of Superdeformed Bands

TL;DR

This paper combines quantum mechanical tunneling calculations with a statistical decay model to determine the energy barrier between superdeformed and normal-deformed nuclear states, revealing spin-dependent decay behavior.

Contribution

It provides an asymptotically exact method to calculate the energy barrier as a function of spin for nuclei in specific mass regions, linking quantum tunneling with nuclear decay.

Findings

Barrier decreases with decreasing angular momentum.

Predicted barrier frequencies for different mass regions.

Consistent spin-dependence with centrifugal barrier effects.

Abstract

An asymptotically exact quantum mechanical calculation of the matrix elements for tunneling through an asymmetric barrier is combined with the two-state statistical model for decay out of superdeformed bands to determine the energy barrier (as a function of spin) separating the superdeformed and normal-deformed wells for several nuclei in the 190 and 150 mass regions. The spin-dependence of the barrier leading to sudden decay out is shown to be consistent with the decrease of a centrifugal barrier with decreasing angular momentum. Values of the barrier frequency in the two mass regions are predicted.