Strength distributions in neodymium isotopes: a test of collective nuclear models

Abstract

Excited states in even Nd isotopes, up to excitation energies of 3–4 MeV, were investigated in proton- and deuteron-scattering experiments performed with high-energy resolution. More than 300 transitions were studied. For several new excited states spin and parity assignments have been suggested. Reduced transition probabilities were extracted for natural-parity states from O + up to 6 +. The experimental strength distributions have been compared with the predictions of the interacting boson model (IBM) and of the quasi-particle-phonon model (QPM). The octupole transition probabilities are well described in both models as produced by the fragmentation of the f-boson or of E3 phonons. IBM-sdf calculations seem to account also for the transitions to the low-lying 1 − states. Quadrupole and hexadecapole distributions are well described in the QPM. The leading configurations are due to 6–8 low-lying one-phonon states. The two- and three-phonon states play an important role especially in 146Nd. The failure of IBM quadrupole and hexadecapole calculations clearly points out the need of introducing additional bosons lying at high excitation energies. QPM evaluations account also for other features of the experimental data, as the E5 and E6 strength distributions and the isovector components. The limits of the two models are discussed.