Inversion of parity splitting in alternating parity bands at high angular momenta

Abstract

The angular-momentum dependence of parity splitting in ground-state alternating parity bands and especially the sign inversion of parity splitting are considered. It is shown that the complicated odd-even staggering structure of the alternating parity bands can be interpreted as the result of two simultaneously manifesting effects: (1) penetration of the barrier separating two minima with the opposite signs of the reflection asymmetric deformation and (2) alignment of the angular momentum of the intrinsic excitations.