Nuclear quantum shape-phase transitions in odd-mass systems

Abstract

Microscopic signatures of nuclear ground-state shape phase transitions in odd-mass Eu isotopes are explored starting from excitation spectra and collective wave functions obtained by diagonalization of a core-quasiparticle coupling Hamiltonian based on energy density functionals. As functions of the physical control parameter -- the number of nucleons -- theoretical low-energy spectra, two-neutron separation energies, charge isotope shifts, spectroscopic quadrupole moments, and $E2$ reduced transition matrix elements accurately reproduce available data, and exhibit more pronounced discontinuities at neutron number $N=90$, compared to the adjacent even-even Sm and Gd isotopes. The enhancement of the first-order quantum phase transition in odd-mass systems can be attributed to a shape polarization effect of the unpaired proton which, at the critical neutron number, starts predominantly coupling to Gd core nuclei that are characterized by larger quadrupole deformation and weaker proton pairing correlations compared to the corresponding Sm isotopes.

arXiv comment6 pages, 4 figures

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Cited by in corpus (10)

• Ground state properties and potential energy surfaces of ${}^{270}$Hs from multidimensionally-constrained relativistic mean field model
• Microscopic core-quasiparticle coupling model for spectroscopy of odd-mass nuclei with octupole correlations
• Shape and multiple shape coexistence of nuclei within covariant density functional theory
• Configuration mixing and intertwined quantum phase transitions in odd-mass niobium isotopes
• Mixed configurations and intertwined quantum phase transitions in odd-mass nuclei
• Shape phase transitions in odd-A Zr isotopes
• Nuclear chart in covariant density functional theory with dynamical correlations: From Oxygen to Tin
• Empirical signatures of shape phase transitions in nuclei with odd nucleon numbers
• Thermodynamics of pairing transition for Odd-A nuclei
• Interplay of quadrupole and octupole degrees of freedom in the Gd isotopes