Theoretical study of triaxial shapes of neutron-rich Mo and Ru nuclei

TL;DR

This study uses advanced nuclear models to analyze the shapes and rotational behaviors of neutron-rich Mo and Ru nuclei, confirming triaxial deformations and matching experimental quadrupole moments.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive theoretical analysis combining DFT and shell model techniques to describe triaxial shapes in neutron-rich Mo-Ru nuclei, aligning with recent experimental data.

Findings

Predicted triaxial ground-state deformations in specific Mo and Ru isotopes.

Reproduced the low-frequency moments of inertia observed experimentally.

Explained band structures with stable triaxial shapes using TPSM.

Abstract

Background: Recently, transition quadrupole moments in rotational bands of even-mass neutron-rich isotopes of molybdenum and ruthenium nuclei have been measured. The new data have provided a challenge for theoretical descriptions invoking stable triaxial deformations. Purpose: To understand experimental data on rotational bands in the neutron-rich Mo-Ru region, we carried out theoretical analysis of moments of inertia, shapes, and transition quadrupole moments of neutron-rich even-even nuclei around $^{110}$Ru using self-consistent mean-field and shell model techniques. Methods: To describe yrast structures in Mo and Ru isotopes, we use nuclear Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the optimized energy density functional UNEDF0. We also apply Triaxial Projected Shell Model (TPSM) to describe yrast and positive-parity, near-yrast band structures. Results: Our self-consistent DFT calculations predict triaxial ground-state deformations in $^{106,108}$Mo and $^{108.110,112}$Ru and reproduce the observed low-frequency behavior of moments of inertia. As the rotational frequency increases, a negative-$\gamma$ structure, associated with the aligned $\nu(h_{11/2})^2$ pair, becomes energetically favored. The computed transition quadrupole moments vary with angular momentum, which reflects deformation changes with rotation; those variations are consistent with experiment. The TPSM calculations explain the observed band structures assuming stable triaxial shapes. Conclusions: The structure of neutron-rich even-even nuclei around $^{110}$Ru is consistent with triaxial shape deformations. Our DFT and TPSM frameworks provide a consistent and complementary description of experimental data.