Microscopic Evolution of Nuclear Equilibrium Shapes

Abstract

The rich variety of nuclear shapes has been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical studies. The variation of ground-state shapes in an isotopic chain, for instance, is governed by the evolution of the shell structure of single-nucleon orbitals. Far from the β-stability line, in particular, the energy spacings between single-nucleon levels change considerably with the number of neutrons and/or protons. This can result in reduced spherical shell gaps, modifications of shell structure, and in some cases spherical magic numbers may disappear. The reduction of spherical shell closure is often associated with the occurrence of deformed ground states and, in a number of cases, with the phenomenon of coexistence of different shapes in a single nucleus.