Determining the energy barrier for decay out of superdeformed bands

B. R. Barrett, J. Bürki, D. M. Cardamone, C. A. Stafford, D. L. Stein

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    An asymptotically exact quantum mechanical calculation of the matrix elements for tunneling through an asymmetric barrier is combined with the two-state statistical model for decay out of superdeformed bands to determine the energy barrier (as a function of spin) separating the superdeformed and normal-deformed wells for several nuclei in the 190 and 150 mass regions. The spin-dependence of the barrier leading to sudden decay out is shown to be consistent with the decrease of a centrifugal barrier with decreasing angular momentum. Values of the barrier frequency in the two mass regions are predicted.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)110-113
    Number of pages4
    JournalPhysics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics
    Volume688
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Apr 26 2010

    Keywords

    • Quantum-mechanical path integrals
    • Superdeformed decay
    • Two-state model of SD decay

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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