Abstract
The atomic nucleus is a many-body quantum system, and hence its shape is determined by the number of nucleons present in the nucleus and the interactions between them. The long-range correlations between valence nucleons distort the shape from spherical symmetry and the nucleus becomes deformed. In most of these cases, it is well established that the shape assumed has quadrupole deformation with axial and reflection symmetry; that is, the nucleus is shaped like a rugby ball (prolate deformation) or as a flattened spheroid discus (oblate deformation). For certain combinations of protons and neutrons, it is expected that the shape of nuclei can assume octupole deformation, corresponding to reflection asymmetry or a “pear-shape” in the intrinsic frame, either dynamically (octupole vibrations) or having a static shape (permanent octupole deformation).
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