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The empirical spectra and $E2$ decay rates in $^{110,112,114,116}$Cd are shown to be consistent with a vibrational interpretation for low-lying normal states, coexisting with a single deformed $\gamma$-soft band of intruder states. The observed deviations from this paradigm show up in particular non-yrast states, which are properly described by a Hamiltonian with U(5) partial dynamical symmetry. The latter is characterized by a good (broken) symmetry in most (in selected) normal states, weakly coupled to intruder states., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication as a Letter in Phys. Rev. C

We show that the collectivity of the particle-hole wave function of low-lying octupole 3^- states in doubly magic nuclei is mainly due to the neutron-proton interaction. Both the enhanced reduced transition probability to the ground state, B(E3;3-_1 -> 0+_1), and the coupling of the octupole excitation to a nucleon result from the coherent action of all the components of the collective state. The results obtained with a realistic shell-model interaction both for 208Pb and 209Pb agree with the geometric collective model of Bohr and Mottelson, where octupole excitations are associated with phonons corresponding to collective shape oscillations of the surface of the nucleus., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We present expressions for the matrix elements of the spin--spin operator $\vec S_{\rm n}\cdot\vec S_{\rm p}$ in a variety of coupling schemes. These results are then applied to calculate the expectation value $\langle\vec S_{\rm n}\cdot\vec S_{\rm p}\rangle$ in eigenstates of a schematic Hamiltonian describing neutrons and protons interacting in a single-$l$ shell through a Surface Delta Interaction. The model allows us to trace $\langle\vec S_{\rm n}\cdot\vec S_{\rm p}\rangle$ as a function of the competition between the isovector and isoscalar interaction strengths and the spin--orbit splitting of the $j=l\pm \frac{1}{2}$ shells. We find negative $\langle\vec S_{\rm n}\cdot\vec S_{\rm p}\rangle$ values in the ground state of all even--even $N=Z$ nuclei, contrary to what has been observed in hadronic inelastic scattering at medium energies. We discuss the possible origin of this discrepancy and indicate directions for future theoretical and experimental studies related to neutron--proton spin--spin correlations., Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in the European Physical Journal A

Elliott's SU(3) model is at the basis of the shell-model description of rotational motion in atomic nuclei. We demonstrate that SU(3) symmetry can be realized in a truncated shell-model space if constructed in terms of a sufficient number of collective $S$, $D$, $G$, $\dots$ pairs (i.e., with angular momentum zero, two, four, $\dots$) and if the structure of the pairs is optimally determined either by a conjugate-gradient minimization method or from a Hartree-Fock intrinsic state. We illustrate the procedure for 6 protons and 6 neutrons in the $pf$ ($sdg$) shell and exactly reproduce the level energies and electric quadrupole properties of the ground-state rotational band with $SDG$ ($SDGI$) pairs. The $SD$-pair approximation without significant renormalization, on the other hand, cannot describe the full SU(3) collectivity. A mapping from Elliott's fermionic SU(3) model to systems with $s$, $d$, $g$, $\dots$ bosons provides insight into the existence of a decoupled collective subspace in terms of $S$, $D$, $G$, $\dots$ pairs.

The neutron-rich $^{213}$Pb isotope was produced in the fragmentation of a primary 1 GeV $A$ $^{238}$U beam, separated in FRS in mass and atomic number, and then implanted for isomer decay $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy with the RISING setup at GSI. A newly observed isomer and its measured decay properties indicate that states in $^{213}$Pb are characterized by the seniority quantum number that counts the nucleons not in pairs coupled to angular momentum $J=0$. The conservation of seniority is a consequence of the Berry phase associated with particle-hole conjugation, which becomes gauge invariant and therefore observable in semi-magic nuclei where nucleons half-fill the valence shell. The $\gamma$-ray spectroscopic observables in $^{213}$Pb are thus found to be driven by two mechanisms, particle-hole conjugation and seniority conservation, which are intertwined through the Berry phase.

In the context of the sf-IBM, the interacting boson model with s and f bosons, the conditions are derived for a rotationally invariant and parity-conserving Hamiltonian with up to two-body interactions to have a minimum with tetrahedral shape in its classical limit. A degenerate minimum that includes a shape with tetrahedral symmetry can be obtained in the classical limit of a Hamiltonian that is transitional between the two limits of the model, U_f(7) and SO_{sf}(8). The conditions for the existence of such a minimum are derived. The system can be driven towards an isolated minimum with tetrahedral shape through a modification of two-body interactions between the f bosons. General comments are made on the observational consequences of the occurrence of shapes with a higher-rank discrete symmetry in the context of algebraic models., Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures

The symmetries of the sdg-IBM, the interacting boson model with s, d and g bosons, are studied as regards the occurrence of shapes with octahedral symmetry. It is shown that no sdg-IBM Hamiltonian with a dynamical symmetry displays in its classical limit an isolated minimum with octahedral shape. However, a degenerate minimum that includes a shape with octahedral symmetry can be obtained from a Hamiltonian that is transitional between two limits, U_g(9) x U_d(5) and SO_sg(10) x U_d(5), and the conditions for its existence are derived. An isolated minimum with octahedral shape, either an octahedron or a cube, may arise through a modification of two-body interactions between the g bosons. Comments on the observational consequences of this construction are made., Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures

A solvable model is proposed for the description of octupole phonons in closed-shell nuclei, formulated in terms of shell-model par\-ticle--hole excitations. With some simple assumptions concerning single-particle energies and two-body interactions, closed expressions are derived for the energy and wave function of the octupole phonon. In particular, it is shown that the components of the octupole phonon are proportional to Wigner $3j$ coefficients. This analytic wave function is proven to be exactly valid in light nuclei, which have $LS$ shell closures that coincide with those of the three-dimensional harmonic oscillator, and to be valid to a good approximation in heavier nuclei, which have $jj$ shell closures due to the spin--orbit interaction. The properties of the solvable model are compared with the results of a realistic shell-model calculation for $^{208}$Pb., Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures

A key question concerning the spherical-vibrator attributes of states in Cadmium isotopes is addressed by means of a boson Hamiltonian encompassing U(5) partial dynamical symmetry. The U(5) symmetry is preserved in a segment of the spectrum and is broken in particular non-yrast states, and the resulting mixing with the intruder states is small. The vibrational character is thus maintained in the majority of low-lying normal states, as observed in $^{110}$Cd., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables, Physical Review C (Rapid Communication). arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1810.05917

The recently reported deviations of selected non-yrast states in $^{110}$Cd from the expected spherical-vibrator behaviour, is addressed by means of an Hamiltonian with U(5) partial dynamical symmetry. The latter preserves the U(5) symmetry in a segment of the spectrum and breaks it in other states. The effect of intruder states is treated in the framework of the interacting boson model with configuration mixing., Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, talk at 16th Int. Symposium on Capture Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy and Related Topics (CGS16), September 18-22, 2017, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

In this contribution the symmetry properties of the interacting boson model of Arima and Iachello are reviewed. While the concept of a dynamical symmetry is by now a familiar one, this is not necessarily so for the extended notions of partial dynamical symmetry and quasi dynamical symmetry, which can be beautifully illustrated in the context of the interacting boson model. The main conclusion of the analysis is that dynamical symmetries are scarce while their partial and quasi extensions are ubiquitous., Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures

We show that fully aligned neutron-proton pairs play a crucial role in the low-energy spectroscopy of nuclei. with valence nucleons in a high-j orbital. Their dominance is valid in nuclei with valence neutrons and protons in different high-j orbitals as well as in N = Z nuclei, where all nucleons occupy the same orbital. We demonstrate analytically this generic feature of the neutron-proton interaction for a variety of systems with four valence nucleons interacting through realistic, effective forces. The dominance of fully aligned neutron-proton pairs results from the combined effect of (i) angular momentum coupling and (ii) basic properties of the neutron-proton interaction., Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures

We propose a schematic model of nucleons moving in spin--orbit partner levels, $j=l\pm{\sfrac12}$, to explain Gamow--Teller and two-nucleon transfer data in $N=Z$ nuclei above $^{40}$Ca. Use of the $LS$ coupling scheme provides a more transparent approach to interpret the structure and reaction data.We apply the model to the analysis of charge-exchange, $^{42}$Ca($^3$He,t)$^{42}$Sc, and np-transfer, $^{40}$Ca($^3$He,p)$^{42}$Sc, reactions data to define the elementary modes of excitation in terms of both isovector and isoscalar pairs, whose properties can be determined by adjusting the parameters of the model (spin--orbit splitting, isovector pairing strength and quadrupole matrix element) to the available data. The overall agreement with experiment suggests that the approach captures the main physics ingredients and provides the basis for a boson approximation that can be extended to heavier nuclei. Our analysis also reveals that the SU(4)-symmetry limit is not realized in $^{42}$Sc., Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure

A geometric interpretation is given of matrix elements of a short-range interaction between states that are written in terms of aligned neutron-proton pairs., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, conference CGS16

The low-lying structures of the midshell $\nu g_{9/2}$ Ni isotopes $^{72}$Ni and $^{74}$Ni have been investigated at the RIBF facility in RIKEN within the EURICA collaboration. Previously unobserved low-lying states were accessed for the first time following $\beta$ decay of the mother nuclei $^{72}$Co and $^{74}$Co. As a result, we provide a complete picture in terms of the seniority scheme up to the first $(8^+)$ levels for both nuclei. The experimental results are compared to shell-model calculations in order to define to what extent the seniority quantum number is preserved in the first neutron $g_{9/2}$ shell. We find that the disappearance of the seniority isomerism in the $(8^+_1)$ states can be explained by a lowering of the seniority-four $(6^+)$ levels as predicted years ago. For $^{74}$Ni, the internal de-excitation pattern of the newly observed $(6^+_2)$ state supports a restoration of the normal seniority ordering up to spin $J=4$. This property, unexplained by the shell-model calculations, is in agreement with a dominance of the single-particle spherical regime near $^{78}$Ni.

Background: The interacting boson model (IBM) has been used extensively to calculate the matrix elements governing neutrinoless double-beta decay. Studies within other models indicate that a good description of neutron-proton pairing is essential for accurate calculations of those matrix elements. The usual interacting boson model is based only on like-particle pairs, however, and the extent to which it captures neutron-proton pairing is not clear. Purpose: To determine whether neutron-proton pairing should be explicitly included as neutron-proton bosons in IBM calculations of neutrinoless double-beta decay matrix elements. Method: An isospin-invariant version of the nucleon-pair shell model is applied to carry out shell-model calculations in a large space and in a collective subspace, and to define effective operators in the latter. A democratic mapping is then used to define corresponding boson operators for the IBM, with and without an isoscalar neutron-proton pair boson. Results: IBM calculations with and without the isoscalar boson are carried out for nuclei near the beginning of the $pf$ shell, with a realistic shell-model Hamiltonian and neutrinoless double-beta-decay operator as the starting point. Energy spectra and double-beta matrix elements are compared to those obtained in the underlying shell model. Conclusions: The isoscalar boson does not improve energy spectra but does improve double-beta matrix elements. To be useful at the level of precision we need, the mapping procedure must be further developed to better determine the dependence of the boson Hamiltonian and decay operator on particle number and isospin. But the benefits provided by the isoscalar boson suggest that through an appropriate combination of mappings and fitting, it would make IBM matrix elements more accurate for the heavier nuclei used in experiments., Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures

The lifetimes of the $2^+_1$, the $2^+_2$ and the $3^-_1$ states of $^{210}$Po have been measured in the $^{208}$Pb($^{12}$C,$^{10}$Be)$^{210}$Po transfer reaction by the Doppler-shift attenuation method. The results for the lifetime of the $2^+_1$ state is about three times shorter than the adopted value. However, the new value still does not allow for consistent description of the properties of the yrast $2^+_1$, $4^+_1$, $6^+_1$, and $8^+_1$ states of $^{210}$Po in the framework of nuclear shell models. The Quasi-particle Phonon Model (QPM) calculations also cannot overcome this problem thus indicating the existence of a peculiarity which is neglected in both theoretical approaches.

It is pointed out that the ground state of n neutrons and n protons in a single-j shell, interacting through an isoscalar (T=0) pairing force, is not paired, J=0, but rather spin-aligned, J=n. This observation is explained in the context of a model of isoscalar P (J=1) pairs, which is mapped onto a system of p bosons, leading to an approximate analytic solution of the isoscalar-pairing limit in jj coupling., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

We discuss symmetries of the spherical shell model that make contact with the geometric collective model of Bohr and Mottelson. The most celebrated symmetry of this kind is SU(3), which is the basis of Elliott's model of rotation. It corresponds to a deformed mean field induced by a quadrupole interaction in a single major oscillator shell N and can be generalized to include several major shells. As such, Elliott's SU(3) model establishes the link between the spherical shell model and the (quadrupole component of the) geometric collective model. We introduce the analogue symmetry induced by an octupole interaction in two major oscillator shells N-1 and N, leading to an octupole-deformed solution of the spherical shell model. We show that in the limit of large oscillator shells (large N) the algebraic octupole interaction tends to that of the geometric collective model., Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables

Shape coexistence has been a subject of great interest in nuclear physics for many decades. In the context of the nuclear shell model, intruder excitations may give rise to remarkably low-lying excited $0^+$ states associated with different intrinsic shapes. In heavy open-shell nuclei, the dimension of the shell-model configuration space that includes such intruder excitations becomes exceedingly large, thus requiring a drastic truncation scheme. Such a framework has been provided by the interacting boson model (IBM). In this article we address the phenomenon of shape coexistence and its relevant spectroscopy from the point of view of the IBM. A special focus is placed on the method developed recently which makes use of the link between the IBM and the self-consistent mean-field approach based on the nuclear energy density functional. The method is extended to deal with various intruder configurations associated with different equilibrium shapes. We assess the predictive power of the method and suggest possible improvements and extensions, by considering illustrative examples in the neutron-deficient Pb region, where shape coexistence has been experimentally studied., Comment: 20 pages, 8 figures; To appear in focus issue of Journal of Physics G "Shape coexistence in nuclei"

We generalize the notion of partial dynamical symmetry (PDS) to a system of interacting bosons and fermions. In a PDS, selected states of the Hamiltonian are solvable and preserve the symmetry exactly, while other states are mixed. As a first example of such novel symmetry construction, spectral features of the odd-mass nucleus $^{195}$Pt are analyzed., Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Physical Review C (Rapid Communications)

In the context of the interacting boson model with $s$, $d$ and $g$ bosons, the conditions for obtaining an intrinsic shape with octahedral symmetry are derived for a general Hamiltonian with up to two-body interactions., Comment: 19 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics A

A discussion of the seniority quantum number in many-body systems is presented. The analysis is carried out for bosons and fermions simultaneously but is restricted to identical particles occupying a single shell. The emphasis of the paper is on the possibility of {\em partial} conservation of seniority which turns out to be a peculiar property of spin-9/2 fermions but prevalent in systems of interacting bosons of any spin. Partial conservation of seniority is at the basis of the existence of seniority isomers, frequently observed in semi-magic nuclei, and also gives rise to peculiar selection rules in one-nucleon transfer reactions., Comment: 41 pages, 7 figures, 1 tables, submitted to Annals of Physics

Background: Quasi dynamical symmetries (QDS) and partial dynamical symmetries (PDS) play an important role in the understanding of complex systems. Up to now these symmetry concepts have been considered to be unrelated. Purpose: Establish a link between PDS and QDS and find an emperical manifestation. Methods: Quantum number fluctuations and the intrinsic state formalism are used within the framework of the interacting boson model of nuclei. Results: A previously unrecognized region of the parameter space of the interacting boson model that has both O(6) PDS (purity) and SU(3) QDS (coherence) in the ground band is established. Many rare-earth nuclei approximately satisfying both symmetry requirements are identified. Conclusions: PDS are more abundant than previously recognized and can lead to a QDS of an incompatible symmetry., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

In this paper a review is given of a class of sub-models of both approaches, characterized by the fact that they can be solved exactly, highlighting in the process a number of generic results related to both the nature of pair-correlated systems as well as collective modes of motion in the atomic nucleus., Comment: 34 pages, 8 figures accepted for publication in Scholarpedia

One of the interesting aspects in the study of atomic nuclei is the strikingly regular behaviour many display in spite of being complex quantum-mechanical systems, prompting the universal question of how regularity emerges out of complexity. It is often conjectured that symmetries play a pivotal role in our understanding of this emerging simplicity. But most symmetries are likely to be broken, partial or both. Under such more realistic conditions, does the concept of symmetry still provide a basis for our understanding of regularity? I suggest that this requires the enlarged concepts of partial and quasi dynamical symmetry., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics News

A review is given of attempts to describe nuclear properties in terms of neutron--proton pairs that are subsequently replaced by bosons. Some of the standard approaches with low-spin pairs are recalled but the emphasis is on a recently proposed framework with pairs of neutrons and protons with aligned angular momentum. The analysis is carried out for general $j$ and applied to $N=Z$ nuclei in the $1f_{7/2}$ and $1g_{9/2}$ shells., Comment: 16 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in Int. J. of Modern Physics E

In the framework of the interacting boson model, relations are derived between nuclear charge radii, electric monopole transition rates, and summed magnetic dipole transition in even-even nuclei. The proposed correlations are tested in the rare-earth region., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, presented at the Conference "Nuclear Data for Science and Technology, New York, March 4-8, 2013", accepted for publication in Nuclear Data Sheets

The geometry of the shears mechanism in nuclei is derived from the nuclear shell model. This is achieved by taking the limit of large angular momenta (classical limit) of shell-model matrix elements., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C, Rapid Communication

We propose the use of partial dynamical symmetry (PDS) as a selection criterion for higher-order terms in situations when a prescribed symmetry is obeyed by some states and is strongly broken in others. The procedure is demonstrated in a first systematic classification of many-body interactions with SU(3) PDS that can improve the description of deformed nuclei. As an example, the triaxial features of the nucleus 156Gd are analyzed., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, Phys. Rev. C, in press

The interacting boson model (IBM) of Arima and Iachello is applied to calculate nuclear charge radii and electric monopole transitions of even-even nuclei in the rare-earth region. Consistent operators are used for the two observables. A relation between summed M1 strength and $\rho({\rm E0})$ values is pointed out., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, to be published in AIP Conference Proceedings, Proceedings of the International Conference on Beauty in Physics: Theory and Experiment, Cocoyoc, Mexico, May 12-18, 2012

It is argued that $N\sim Z$ nuclei with $90\leq A\leq100$ can be interpreted in terms of aligned neutron--proton pairs with angular momentum $J=2j$ and isospin T=0. Based on this observation, a version of the interacting boson model is formulated in terms of isoscalar high-spin bosons. To illustrate its possible use, the model is applied to the $21^+$ isomer in $^{94}$Ag., Comment: Accepted for publication in Physica Scripta T, Proceedings of the Nordic Conference on Nuclear Physics 2011, Stockholm, June 13-17

A systematic study of energy spectra throughout the rare-earth region (even-even nuclei from $_{58}$Ce to $_{74}$W) is carried out in the framework of the interacting boson model (IBM), leading to an accurate description of the spherical-to-deformed shape transition in the different isotopic chains. The resulting IBM Hamiltonians are then used for the calculation of nuclear charge radii (including isotope and isomer shifts) and electric monopole transitions with consistent operators for the two observables. The main conclusion of this study is that an IBM description of charge radii and electric monopole transitions is possible for most of the nuclei considered but that it breaks down in the tungsten isotopes. It is suggested that this failure is related to hexadecapole deformation., Comment: 13 pages, 5 tables, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

We performed at ISOLDE the spectroscopy of the decay of the 8- isomer in 136Cs by and conversion-electron detection. For the first time the excitation energy of the isomer and the multipolarity of its decay have been measured. The half-life of the isomeric state was remeasured to T1/2 = 17.5(2) s. This isomer decays via a very slow 518 keV E3 transition to the ground state. In addition to this, a much weaker decay branch via a 413 keV M4 and a subsequent 105 keV E2 transition has been found. Thus we have found a new level at 105 keV with spin 4+ between the isomeric and the ground state. The results are discussed in comparison to shell model calculations., Comment: Phys. Rev. C accepted for publication

Lifetimes of the $9/2^-_1$ and $3/2^-_1$ states in $^{63}$Co and the $9/2^-_1$ state in $^{65}$Co were measured using the recoil distance Doppler shift and the differential decay curve methods. The nuclei were populated by multi-nucleon transfer reactions in inverse kinematics. Gamma rays were measured with the EXOGAM Ge array and the recoiling fragments were fully identified using the large-acceptance VAMOS spectrometer. The E2 transition probabilities from the $3/2^-_1$ and $9/2^-_1$ states to the $7/2^-$ ground state could be extracted in $^{63}$Co as well as an upper limit for the $9/2^-_1\rightarrow7/2^-_1$ $B$(E2) value in $^{65}$Co. The experimental results were compared to large-scale shell-model calculations in the $pf$ and $pfg_{9/2}$ model spaces, allowing to draw conclusions on the single-particle or collective nature of the various states., Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

A study is carried out of the role of the aligned neutron-proton pair with angular momentum J=9 and isospin T=0 in the low-energy spectroscopy of the $N=Z$ nuclei $^{96}$Cd, $^{94}$Ag, and $^{92}$Pd. Shell-model wave functions resulting from realistic interactions are analyzed in terms of a variety of two-nucleon pairs corresponding to different choices of their coupled angular momentum $J$ and isospin $T$. The analysis is performed exactly for four holes ($^{96}$Cd) and carried further for six and eight holes ($^{94}$Ag and $^{92}$Pd) by means of a mapping to an appropriate version of the interacting boson model. The study allows the identification of the strengths and deficiencies of the aligned-pair approximation., Comment: 5 figures, 7 tables, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

The use of dynamical symmetries or spectrum generating algebras for the solution of the nuclear many-body problem is reviewed. General notions of symmetry and dynamical symmetry in quantum mechanics are introduced and illustrated with simple examples such as the SO(4) symmetry of the hydrogen atom and the isospin symmetry in nuclei. Two nuclear models, the shell model and the interacting boson model, are reviewed with particular emphasis on their use of group-theoretical techniques., Comment: 46 pages, 11 figures. Lecture given at the XL Latin American School of Physics "Symmetries in Physics", Mexico City, July 26 - August 6, 2010. Accepted for publication in AIP Conference Proceedings Series

A review is given of the relation between pairing, quasi-spin algebras and seniority. The former two concepts are closely connected, the relation being that the quasi-spin formalism allows an efficient solution of the pairing problem. Seniority is of much wider applicability than either pairing or quasi-spin and applications can even be extended to encompass the notion of partial symmetry. A recent application of partial conservation of seniority and its importance for nuclear isomers is discussed., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures. Presented at the 17th Nuclear Physics Conference "Marie and Pierre Curie" on " Symmetry and Symmetry Breaking in Nuclear Physics", Kazimierz Dolny, 22-26 september 2010, Poland. Accepted for publication in International Journal of Modern Physics E