Signatures of shape phase transitions in krypton isotopes based on relativistic energy density functionals

TL;DR

This paper investigates shape phase transitions in krypton isotopes around mass 80 using relativistic energy density functional theory, revealing evolution of nuclear structure and shape mixing, especially in the transitional nucleus $^{82}$Kr.

Contribution

It applies a comprehensive relativistic density functional approach with triaxial calculations to analyze shape phase transitions and critical-point symmetry in krypton isotopes.

Findings

Systematic analysis of potential energy surfaces and spectra across isotopes.

Identification of shape mixing and evolution in nuclear structure.

Highlighting $^{82}$Kr as an empirical realization of E(5) symmetry.

Abstract

Spectroscopic properties that characterize the shape phase transitions in krypton isotopes with the mass $A\approx80$ region are investigated within the framework of the nuclear density functional theory. Triaxial quadrupole constrained self-consistent mean-field calculations that employ relativistic energy density functionals and a pairing interaction are carried out for the even-even nuclei $^{76-86}$Kr. The spectroscopic properties are computed by solving the triaxial quadrupole collective Hamiltonian, with the ingredients, i.e., the deformation-dependent moments of inertia and mass parameters, and the collective potential, determined by using the SCMF solutions as microscopic inputs. Systematic behaviors of the SCMF potential energy surfaces, the corresponding low-energy spectra, electric quadrupole and monopole transition probabilities, and the fluctuations in the triaxial quadrupole deformations indicate evolution of the underlying nuclear structure as functions of the neutron number, that is characterized by a considerable degree of shape mixing. A special attention is paid to the transitional nucleus $^{82}$Kr, which has been recently identified experimentally as an empirical realization of the E(5) critical-point symmetry.