Deformation versus Sphericity in the Ground States of the Lightest Gold Isotopes

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • J. G. Cubiss - , University of York (Author)
  • A. N. Andreyev - , University of York, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (Author)
  • A. E. Barzakh - , CERN (Author)
  • P. Van Duppen - , KU Leuven (Author)
  • S. Hilaire - , Université Paris-Saclay (Author)
  • S. Péru - , Université Paris-Saclay (Author)
  • S. Goriely - , Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) (Author)
  • M. Al Monthery - , University of York (Author)
  • N. A. Althubiti - , University of Manchester, Al Jouf University (Author)
  • B. Andel - , Comenius University (Author)
  • S. Antalic - , Comenius University (Author)
  • D. Atanasov - , Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, CERN (Author)
  • K. Blaum - , Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (Author)
  • T. E. Cocolios - , KU Leuven, University of Manchester (Author)
  • T. Day Goodacre - , University of Manchester, CERN, TRIUMF (Author)
  • A. De Roubin - , Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Université de Bordeaux (Author)
  • G. J. Farooq-Smith - , KU Leuven, University of Manchester (Author)
  • D. V. Fedorov - , CERN (Author)
  • V. N. Fedosseev - , CERN (Author)
  • D. A. Fink - , Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, CERN (Author)
  • L. P. Gaffney - , KU Leuven, CERN (Author)
  • L. Ghys - , KU Leuven, Belgian Nuclear Research Center (Author)
  • R. D. Harding - , University of York, CERN (Author)
  • M. Huyse - , KU Leuven (Author)
  • N. Imai - , The University of Tokyo (Author)
  • D. T. Joss - , University of Liverpool (UOL) (Author)
  • S. Kreim - , Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, CERN (Author)
  • D. Lunney - , French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Université Paris-Saclay (Author)
  • K. M. Lynch - , University of Manchester, CERN (Author)
  • V. Manea - , Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Université Paris-Saclay (Author)
  • B. A. Marsh - , CERN (Author)
  • Y. Martinez Palenzuela - , KU Leuven, CERN (Author)
  • P. L. Molkanov - , CERN (Author)
  • D. Neidherr - , GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research (Author)
  • G. G. O'Neill - , University of Liverpool (UOL) (Author)
  • R. D. Page - , University of Liverpool (UOL) (Author)
  • S. D. Prosnyak - , CERN (Author)
  • M. Rosenbusch - , University of Greifswald, RIKEN (Author)
  • R. E. Rossel - , CERN, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Author)
  • S. Rothe - , CERN, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Author)
  • L. Schweikhard - , University of Greifswald (Author)
  • M. D. Seliverstov - , CERN (Author)
  • S. Sels - , KU Leuven (Author)
  • L. V. Skripnikov - , CERN (Author)
  • A. Stott - , University of York (Author)
  • C. Van Beveren - , KU Leuven (Author)
  • E. Verstraelen - , KU Leuven (Author)
  • A. Welker - , Chair of Nuclear Physics, CERN (Author)
  • F. Wienholtz - , CERN, University of Greifswald, Technische Universität Darmstadt (Author)
  • R. N. Wolf - , Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, University of Greifswald, University of Sydney (Author)
  • K. Zuber - , Chair of Nuclear Physics (Author)

Abstract

The changes in mean-squared charge radii of neutron-deficient gold nuclei have been determined using the in-source, resonance-ionization laser spectroscopy technique, at the ISOLDE facility (CERN). From these new data, nuclear deformations are inferred, revealing a competition between deformed and spherical configurations. The isotopes Au180,181,182 are observed to possess well-deformed ground states and, when moving to lighter masses, a sudden transition to near-spherical shapes is seen in the extremely neutron-deficient nuclides, Au176,177,179. A case of shape coexistence and shape staggering is identified in Au178 which has a ground and isomeric state with different deformations. These new data reveal a pattern in ground-state deformation unique to the gold isotopes, whereby, when moving from the heavy to light masses, a plateau of well-deformed isotopes exists around the neutron midshell, flanked by near-spherical shapes in the heavier and lighter isotopes - a trend hitherto unseen elsewhere in the nuclear chart. The experimental charge radii are compared to those from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations using the D1M Gogny interaction and configuration mixing between states of different deformation. The calculations are constrained by the known spins, parities, and magnetic moments of the ground states in gold nuclei and show a good agreement with the experimental results.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number202501
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume131
Issue number20
Publication statusPublished - 17 Nov 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38039485

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas