Low-lying states of neutron-rich N=50 isotones in multi-reference covariant density functional theory
Abstract
Predictions for the systematics of low-lying states in neutron-rich N=50 isotones from \nuclide[80]{Zn} to \nuclide[70]{Ca}, where experimental information remains scarce, exhibit substantial model dependence. We investigate these nuclei using multi-reference covariant density functional theory based on a relativistic energy density functional, in which nuclear wave functions are constructed as superpositions of symmetry-restored mean-field states with different quadrupole deformations. The low-lying states of \nuclide[78]{Ni} are reasonably reproduced, and a prolate rotational band built on the second 0+ state is predicted in addition to a near-spherical ground state. As the proton number decreases toward Z=20, the low-energy structure exhibits a nonmonotonic evolution from spherical to strongly deformed and subsequently back to spherical shapes, consistent with valence-space shell-model predictions. In particular, the emergence of deformed ground states in \nuclide[76]{Fe} and \nuclide[74]{Cr} is accompanied by enhanced quadrupole collectivity and stronger shape mixing. The results provide a coherent microscopic description of the structural evolution from the doubly magic \nuclide[78]{Ni} to the neutron-rich N=50 isotones.
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BibTeX
@misc{wu2026lowlying,
title = {{Low-lying states of neutron-rich $N=50$ isotones in multi-reference covariant density functional theory}},
author = {X. Y. Wu and M. L. Mai and D. Q. Zhu and W. H. Liu and Z. M. Liu and J. Xiang},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.01364},
eprint = {2609.01364},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.01364},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Low-lying states of neutron-rich N=50 isotones in multi-reference covariant density functional theory
AU - X. Y. Wu
AU - M. L. Mai
AU - D. Q. Zhu
AU - W. H. Liu
AU - Z. M. Liu
AU - J. Xiang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.01364
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.01364
AB - Predictions for the systematics of low-lying states in neutron-rich N=50 isotones from \nuclide[80]{Zn} to \nuclide[70]{Ca}, where experimental information remains scarce, exhibit substantial model dependence. We investigate these nuclei using multi-reference covariant density functional theory based on a relativistic energy density functional, in which nuclear wave functions are constructed as superpositions of symmetry-restored mean-field states with different quadrupole deformations. The low-lying states of \nuclide[78]{Ni} are reasonably reproduced, and a prolate rotational band built on the second 0^+ state is predicted in addition to a near-spherical ground state. As the proton number decreases toward Z=20, the low-energy structure exhibits a nonmonotonic evolution from spherical to strongly deformed and subsequently back to spherical shapes, consistent with valence-space shell-model predictions. In particular, the emergence of deformed ground states in \nuclide[76]{Fe} and \nuclide[74]{Cr} is accompanied by enhanced quadrupole collectivity and stronger shape mixing. The results provide a coherent microscopic description of the structural evolution from the doubly magic \nuclide[78]{Ni} to the neutron-rich N=50 isotones.
ER -