Landscape of atomic nuclear shapes

TL;DR

This paper explores the diverse nuclear shape phases across the nuclear chart, using a shell model framework to classify shapes and analyze shape coexistence, revealing new insights into nuclear structure and dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive shell model scheme to classify various nuclear shapes and discusses shape coexistence in a specific nuclear region, offering new understanding of nuclear shape phases.

Findings

Identification of multiple nuclear shape phases including ferro-deformed, sub-ferro-deformed, and spherical.

Classification of spherical shapes into three magic-number categories based on shell gaps.

Discussion of shape coexistence in nuclei with Z=76 to 84 as a new perspective on nuclear dynamics.

Abstract

We exhibit a wide variety of the nuclear shape phases over the nuclear chart along with a shell model scheme. Various nuclear shapes are demonstrated within the framework of proton-neutron spin-orbital interactions; ferro-deformed, sub-ferro-deformed, and spherical shapes. The spherical shape is classified into the three magic-number categories in view of a large shell gap mechanism; double-magic nuclei I, double magic nuclei II, and double magic nuclei III. We discuss nuclear shape coexistence in the space Z = 76 to 84 as providing a new way to understanding the dynamical shape phases.