Seven years of the proxy-SU(3) shell model symmetry

TL;DR

This paper reviews seven years of development in the proxy-SU(3) shell model symmetry, highlighting theoretical advances, connections to the shell model, and implications for nuclear shape phenomena.

Contribution

It summarizes key progress in the proxy-SU(3) symmetry over seven years, including its theoretical justification, connection to the shell model, and applications to nuclear shape coexistence.

Findings

Connection of proxy-SU(3) to the shell model

Justification of high-weight state dominance

Prediction of shape coexistence islands

Abstract

The proxy-SU(3) symmetry was first presented in HINPw4 in Ioannina in May2017, justified within the Nilsson model and applied to parameter-free predictions of the collective variables beta and gamma in medium-mass and heavy nuclei. Major steps forward, including the connection of the proxy-SU(3) symmetry to the shell model, the justification of the dominance of highest weight states in terms of the short range nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction, as well as the first proposal of appearance of islands of shape coexistence on the nuclear chart, have been presented in HINPw6 in Athens in May 2021. The recently hot topic of the prevalence of triaxial shapes in heavy nuclei will also be briefly outlined in the proxy-SU(3) framework.