Can one identify the intrinsic structure of the yrast states in $^{48}$Cr after the backbending?

TL;DR

This study uses the Projected Configuration Interaction method to analyze the backbending phenomenon in $^{48}$Cr, revealing that multiple intrinsic state explanations can reproduce experimental data, indicating no unique intrinsic structure after backbending.

Contribution

The paper applies the PCI method to clarify the intrinsic structure of yrast states in $^{48}$Cr, challenging previous single-explanation models.

Findings

Both $K=0$ and $K=2$ band crossing explanations reproduce experimental backbending.

PCI wavefunctions for different explanations are highly overlapped.

No unique intrinsic state is associated with the yrast states after backbending.

Abstract

The backbending phenomenon in $^{48}$Cr has been investigated using the recently developed Projected Configuration Interaction (PCI) method, in which the deformed intrinsic states are directly associated with shell model (SM) wavefunctions. Two previous explanations, (i) $K=0$ band crossing, and (ii) $K=2$ band crossing have been reinvestigated using PCI, and it was found that both explanations can successfully reproduce the experimental backbending. The PCI wavefunctions in the pictures of $K=0$ band crossing and $K=2$ band crossing are highly overlapped. We conclude that there are no unique intrinsic states associated with the yrast states after backbending in $^{48}$Cr.