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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Competing shape evolution, crossing configurations, and single particle levels in nuclei

N. Gavrielov*

  • GANIL, CEA/DSM-CNRS/IN2P3, Boulevard Henri Becquerel, BP 55027, 14076 Caen Cedex 5, France and Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel

  • *Contact author: noam.gavrielov@mail.huji.ac.il
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, L022022 – Published 23 April, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L022022

Abstract

The evolution of shape in the even-even zirconium (Zr) isotopes has been the subject of study for many years. However, the odd-mass isotopes have not been investigated as extensively due to limited experimental accessibility and computational challenges. This work, employing the interacting boson-fermion model with configuration mixing, examines the effect of rapid shape evolution and normal-intruder configuration crossing, both identified as quantum phase transitions, alongside evolution in single particle energies, on the positive-parity spectrum of odd-mass 93--103Zr isotopes. Calculated energy levels, magnetic moments, B(E2) values, and quadrupole moments are compared to experimental data, showing good agreement. This agreement emphasizes the unique role of the odd neutron in the data. The special case of Zr99, which lies near the critical point of both quantum phase transitions, is also addressed, offering a new interpretation of the 7/21+ isomeric state and the occurrence of the type II shell evolution, in light of recent debates.

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Outline

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, L022022– Published 23 April, 2025
  • Received 16 August 2024
  • Revised 28 October 2024
  • Accepted 4 January 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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