Broken SU(3) symmetry in deformed even-even nuclei

Abstract

A collective vector-boson model with broken SU(3) symmetry, in which the ground state band and the lowest $γ$ band belong to the same irreducible representation but are non-degenerate, is applied to several deformed even-even nuclei. The model description of ground and $γ$ bands together with the corresponding B(E2) transition probabilities is investigated within a broad range of SU(3) irreducible representations $(λ,μ)$. The calculations show that the $(λ,μ)$ characteristics of rotational nuclei depend to a great extent on the magnitude of the SU(3) splitting between the ground and $γ$ bands. It is found that for weakly split spectra, the ground--$γ$ band coupling scheme is realized relevantly within narrow regions of ``favored'' $(λ,μ)$ multiplets, while in the cases of strong splitting a description in which the ground band is situated alone in an irreducible representation is favored. The obtained results are analyzed in terms of the bandmixing interactions. The possibility for a transition between the different collective SU(3) schemes is discussed.

LaTeX, 38 pages. 8 figures available from the authors