Low-Energy Coulomb Excitation for the Shell Model

Marco Rocchini,Magda Zielińska

doi:10.3390/physics3040078

Abstract

Low-energy Coulomb excitation is capable of providing unique information on static electromagnetic moments of short-lived excited nuclear states, including non-yrast states. The process selectively populates low-lying collective states and is, therefore, ideally suited to study phenomena such as shape coexistence and the development of exotic deformation (triaxial or octupole shapes). Historically, these experiments were restricted to stable isotopes. However, the advent of new facilities providing intense beams of short-lived radioactive species has opened the possibility to apply this powerful technique to a much wider range of nuclei. The paper discusses the observables that can be measured in a Coulomb-excitation experiment and their relation to the nuclear structure parameters with an emphasis on the nuclear shape. Recent examples of Coulomb-excitation studies that provided outcomes relevant for the Shell Model are also presented.

Highlights

IntroductionLow-Energy Coulomb Excitation for the Shell Model
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Among the multitude of experimental techniques used in nuclear-structure physics, low-energy Coulomb excitation is one of the oldest and, still to this day, one of the most widely employed

Summary

Introduction

Low-Energy Coulomb Excitation for the Shell Model. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Among the multitude of experimental techniques used in nuclear-structure physics, low-energy Coulomb excitation is one of the oldest and, still to this day, one of the most widely employed. The reason for its success is twofold. This technique requires ion beams with relatively low energy (a few MeV per nucleon) and the large cross sections of the Coulomb-excitation process can compensate for low beam intensity

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