Towards large-scale shell-model studies of superheavy nuclei: Spectroscopy of N ∼ 150 nuclei
Abstract
Transfermium nuclei provide experimental access to the single-particle structure underlying the stability of superheavy nuclei. We present the first systematic shell-model description of the N = 150 isotones using a new variation-after-projection shell-model approach. The ground-state and K π = 2 − bands are reproduced across the isotonic chain with a unified Hamiltonian, including the long-standing anomalous lowering of the J π = 2 − bandhead in 248 Cf. We show that this anomaly originates from a local inversion of the neutron j 15/2 and g 9/2 orbitals, associated with the deformed [734]9/2 and [622]5/2 neutron orbitals near the Fermi surface. This is driven by the proton-neutron monopole interaction as proton occupations evolve along the isotonic chain. The same mechanism also reproduces the low-lying spectra of the neighboring N = 151 isotones, without further adjustment, and predicts a low-lying J π = 2 − bandhead at 524 keV in 254 Rf. This work establishes a microscopic shell-model benchmark for the key neutron single-particle levels in the heavy actinide and transfermium region and demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale shell-model calculations for superheavy nuclei.
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BibTeX
@article{lian2026towards,
title = {{Towards large-scale shell-model studies of superheavy nuclei: Spectroscopy of N ∼ 150 nuclei}},
author = {Zhanjiang Lian and Zaochun Gao and Chong Qi},
journal = {Physics Letters B},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.physletb.2026.141069},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0370269326009196},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Towards large-scale shell-model studies of superheavy nuclei: Spectroscopy of N ∼ 150 nuclei
AU - Zhanjiang Lian
AU - Zaochun Gao
AU - Chong Qi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Physics Letters B
DO - 10.1016/j.physletb.2026.141069
UR - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0370269326009196
AB - Transfermium nuclei provide experimental access to the single-particle structure underlying the stability of superheavy nuclei. We present the first systematic shell-model description of the N = 150 isotones using a new variation-after-projection shell-model approach. The ground-state and K π = 2 − bands are reproduced across the isotonic chain with a unified Hamiltonian, including the long-standing anomalous lowering of the J π = 2 − bandhead in 248 Cf. We show that this anomaly originates from a local inversion of the neutron j 15/2 and g 9/2 orbitals, associated with the deformed [734]9/2 and [622]5/2 neutron orbitals near the Fermi surface. This is driven by the proton-neutron monopole interaction as proton occupations evolve along the isotonic chain. The same mechanism also reproduces the low-lying spectra of the neighboring N = 151 isotones, without further adjustment, and predicts a low-lying J π = 2 − bandhead at 524 keV in 254 Rf. This work establishes a microscopic shell-model benchmark for the key neutron single-particle levels in the heavy actinide and transfermium region and demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale shell-model calculations for superheavy nuclei.
SN - 0370-2693
SN - 1873-2445
ER -