Rod-shaped Nuclei at Extreme Spin and Isospin

TL;DR

This paper investigates the stabilization mechanisms of rod-shaped nuclei at extreme spin and isospin using a self-consistent microscopic approach, revealing how valence neutrons and rotation contribute to the formation of this unusual nuclear shape.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, self-consistent microscopic analysis of how extreme spin and isospin stabilize rod-shaped nuclei, emphasizing the role of valence neutrons and rotational effects.

Findings

Valence neutrons' σ orbitals are lowered by rotation, stabilizing the rod shape.

Spin and isospin effects enhance the stability of the rod configuration.

The study suggests rod shapes could exist in nuclei at extreme spin and isospin.

Abstract

The anomalous rod shape in carbon isotopes has been investigated in the framework of the cranking covariant density functional theory, and two mechanisms to stabilize such a novel shape with respect to the bending motion, extreme spin, and isospin, are simultaneously discussed for the first time in a self-consistent and microscopic way. By adding valence neutrons and rotating the system, we have found the mechanism stabilizing the rod shape; i.e., the $\sigma$ orbitals (parallel to the symmetry axis) of the valence neutrons, important for the rod shape, are lowered by the rotation due to the Coriolis term. The spin and isospin effects enhance the stability of the rod-shaped configuration. This provides a strong hint that a rod shape could be realized in nuclei towards extreme spin and isospin.