Deexcitation Energy of Superdeformed Secondary Minima as a Probe to Density Dependence of Symmetry Energy

Abstract

Deexcitation energies of superdeformed secondary minima of odd-odd Au and Tl isotopes are investigated with the relativistic mean field (RMF) model where the isoscalar-isovector coupling is included to change the symmetry energy. It is verified by the theoretical analysis and numerical results that the deexcitation energies of superdeformed secondary minima relative to the ground states in these heavy nuclei are sensitive to differences in the symmetry energy. In particular, the linear correlation between the deexcitation energies of odd-odd Au and Tl isotopes and the neutron skin thickness in 208Pb is established. Moreover, explorations are extended to superdeformed candidates of other mass regions. It is found that the linear correlation can even be established between the deexcitation energies and the symmetry pressure at subsaturation density. These indicate that deexcitation energies can serve as a probe to the density dependence of the symmetry energy.