Symmetry-Based Approach to Shape Coexistence in Nuclei

TL;DR

This paper introduces a symmetry-based method within the interacting boson model to describe shape coexistence in nuclei, preserving certain symmetries in specific states while breaking them in others, capturing complex nuclear structures.

Contribution

It presents a novel construction of a number-conserving Hamiltonian that maintains partial dynamical symmetries for different nuclear shapes, advancing the modeling of shape coexistence.

Findings

Successfully applied to prolate-oblate coexistence

Effectively describes spherical-prolate-oblate coexistence

Works near critical points of shape transitions

Abstract

A symmetry-based approach for describing shape-coexistence, is presented in the framework of the interacting boson model of nuclei. It involves a construction of a number-conserving Hamiltonian which preserves the dynamical symmetry of selected bands associated with each shape, while breaking the symmetries in other states. The resulting structure embodies multiple partial dynamical symmetries. The procedure is applied to prolate-oblate and spherical-prolate-oblate coexistence, at and slightly away from the critical points.