Evidence of octupole correlation in Se79

Abstract

Two opposite parity bands I and II with eight new parity changing transitions have been identified in $^{79}\mathrm{Se}$ using the fusion-evaporation reaction $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}(^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}2n$) at ${E}_{\mathrm{Lab}}\ensuremath{\approx}31$ MeV. The $B(M1)$ and $B(E2)$ rates of bands I and II as well as $B(E1)$ values of the linking transitions between the two bands have been determined from lifetime measurements and are compared with reflection asymmetric triaxial particle rotor model calculations. The large $B(E1)$/$B(E2)$ ratios and $B(E1)$ transition rates indicate the existence of a strong octupole correlation in the $^{79}\mathrm{Se}$ nucleus. This is also supported by the calculated potential energy surface, based on the covariant density functional theory within the three-dimensional lattice approach, which is very soft for the octupole shape degree of freedom ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{30}$. Extracted values of the intrinsic dipole moments $|{D}_{0}|$ from the $B(E1)$ rates for the lower spin states also indicate the octupole correlation in $^{79}\mathrm{Se}$.