Microscopic Description of Odd- and Even-Mass Er Isotopes

Abstract

The pseudo-SU(3) shell model is used to describe rotational bands and B(E2) electromagnetic transition strengths in the even- and odd-mass rare earth isotopes 164,165,166,167,168Er. The building blocks of the model are the pseudo-SU(3) proton and neutron states with pseudo-spin zero and 1/2, which describe even and odd numbers of nucleons, respectively. The many-particle states are built as linear combinations of pseudo-SU(3) coupled states with well-defined particle number and total angular momentum. The Hamiltonian includes spherical Nilsson single-particle energies, quadrupole—quadrupole and pairing interactions, as well as rotor terms that are diagonal in the SU(3) basis. The use of realistic single-particle energies has a fundamental importance in the appropriate description of odd-mass nuclei.