Triaxial deformation, shell structure, shell corrections and the connection to alpha-clustering in nuclei
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: We explore the connection between the appearance of quasi-stable structures in mean-field type calculations, which arise as a result of the evolution of the underlying shell structure as a function of deformation, and α-clustering in light even–even nuclei. The Nilsson–Strutinsky mean-field approach employs a macroscopic liquid-drop whose energy is modified by a shell correction term derived using the Strutinsky method. This method reflects the variations in the energies of the single-particle states with deformation. As such, there is no obvious connection to clustering. Here we use the changing level scheme of the deformed harmonic oscillator as a function of triaxial deformation to fully explore the variation in stability of α-cluster structures in light even–even nuclei. The energies of the harmonic oscillator levels are used to deduce the energy required to disrupt the α-cluster as a function of the triaxial deformation. We find that there is good agreement between variations in the shell correction energy in the mean-field method and the energy required to disrupt the α-cluster. This provides a necessary link between understanding of the appearance of quasi-stable α-cluster structures and quasi-stable shapes appearing in mean-field calculations.
Authors: Georgina Clark, Holly Taylor, Martin Freer
Institution: University of Birmingham
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,165
OpenAlex ID: W4403222608