Physics Letters B (Dec 2020)
Evidence for shape coexistence and superdeformation in 24Mg
- J.T.H. Dowie,
- T. Kibédi,
- D.G. Jenkins,
- A.E. Stuchbery,
- A. Akber,
- H.A. Alshammari,
- N. Aoi,
- A. Avaa,
- L.J. Bignell,
- M.V. Chisapi,
- B.J. Coombes,
- T.K. Eriksen,
- M.S.M. Gerathy,
- T.J. Gray,
- T.H. Hoang,
- E. Ideguchi,
- P. Jones,
- M. Kumar Raju,
- G.J. Lane,
- B.P. McCormick,
- L.J. McKie,
- A.J. Mitchell,
- N.J. Spinks,
- B.P.E. Tee
Affiliations
- J.T.H. Dowie
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; Corresponding author.
- T. Kibédi
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- D.G. Jenkins
- Department of Physics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; University of Strasbourg Institute of Advanced Studies (USIAS), Strasbourg, France
- A.E. Stuchbery
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- A. Akber
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- H.A. Alshammari
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- N. Aoi
- Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), 10-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan
- A. Avaa
- Department of Subatomic Physics, iThemba LABS, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa; School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
- L.J. Bignell
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- M.V. Chisapi
- Department of Subatomic Physics, iThemba LABS, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- B.J. Coombes
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- T.K. Eriksen
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- M.S.M. Gerathy
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- T.J. Gray
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- T.H. Hoang
- Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), 10-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan
- E. Ideguchi
- Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), 10-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan
- P. Jones
- Department of Subatomic Physics, iThemba LABS, P.O. Box 722, Somerset West 7129, South Africa
- M. Kumar Raju
- Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), 10-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan
- G.J. Lane
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- B.P. McCormick
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- L.J. McKie
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- A.J. Mitchell
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- N.J. Spinks
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- B.P.E. Tee
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 811
p. 135855
Abstract
The E0 transition depopulating the first-excited 0+ state in 24Mg has been observed for the first time, and the E0 transition strength determined by electron-positron pair and γ-ray spectroscopy measurements performed using the Super-e pair spectrometer. The E0 transition strength is ρ2×103=380(70). A two-state mixing model implies a deformation of the first-excited 0+ state of β2≈1 and a change in the mean-square charge radius of Δ〈r2〉≈1.9fm2, which suggests a significant shape change between the ground state and first-excited 0+ state in 24Mg. The observed E0 strength gives direct evidence of shape coexistence and superdeformation in 24Mg, bringing this nucleus into line with similar behaviour in nearby N=Z nuclei. This result agrees with recent theoretical work on the cluster nature of 24Mg and has potential ramifications for nuclear reactions of astrophysical importance.
