Critical-point nuclei
- Resource Type
- Conference
- Authors
- Source
- Conference: International Conference on ''Nuclei at the Limits'', Argonne, IL (US), 07/26/2004--07/30/2004; Other Information: PBD: 1 Oct 2004
- Subject
- 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS NUCLEI
SHAPE
LAWRENCE BERKELEY LABORATORY
- Language
- English
It has been suggested that a change of nuclear shape may be described in terms of a phase transition and that specific nuclei may lie close to the critical point of the transition. Analytical descriptions of such critical-point nuclei have been introduced recently and they are described briefly. The results of extensive searches for possible examples of critical-point behavior are presented. Alternative pictures, such as describing bands in the candidate nuclei using simple {Delta}K = 0 and {Delta}K = 2 rotational-coupling models, are discussed, and the limitations of the different approaches highlighted. A possible critical-point description of the transition from a vibrational to rotational pairing phase is suggested.