New rotational bands built on the $ u$$(h_{11/2})$ configuration have been identified in $^{105}$Pd. Two bands built on this configuration show the characteristics of transverse wobbling: the $Delta$$I$=1 transitions between them have a predominant E2 component and the wobbling energy decreases with increasing spin. The properties of the observed wobbling bands are in good agreement with theoretical results obtained using constrained triaxial covariant density functional theory and quantum particle rotor model calculations. This provides the first experimental evidence for transverse wobbling bands based on a one-neutron configuration, and also represents the first observation of wobbling motion in the $A$$sim$100 mass region.
A pair of transverse wobbling bands has been observed in the nucleus $^{135}$Pr. The wobbling is characterized by $Delta I$ =1, E2 transitions between the bands, and a decrease in the wobbling energy confirms its transverse nature. Additionally, a transition from transverse wobbling to a three-quasiparticle band comprised of strong magnetic dipole transitions is observed. These observations conform well to results from calculations with the Tilted Axis Cranking (TAC) model and the Quasiparticle Triaxial Rotor (QTR) Model.
The $g$-factor and static quadrupole moment of the nuclides $^{135}$Pr, $^{105}$Pd, and $^{187}$Au in the wobbling motion are investigated in the particle-rotor model as functions of the total spin $I$. The $g$-factor of $^{105}mathrm{Pd}$ increases with increasing $I$, due to the negative gyromagnetic ratio of a neutron valence-neutron. This behavior is in contrast to the decreasing $g$-factor of the other two nuclides, $^{135}$Pr and $^{187}$Au, which feature a valence-proton. The static quadrupole moment $Q$ depends on all three expectation values of the total angular momentum. It is smaller in the yrast band than in the wobbling band for the transverse wobblers $^{135}$Pr and $^{105}$Pd, while larger for the longitudinal wobbler $^{187}$Au.
Excited states of $^{133}$La have been investigated to search for the wobbling excitation mode in the low-spin regime. Wobbling bands with $n_omega$ = 0 and 1 are identified along with the interconnecting $Delta I$ = 1, $E2$ transitions, which are regarded as one of the characteristic features of the wobbling motion. An increase in wobbling frequency with spin implies longitudinal wobbling for $^{133}$La, in contrast with the case of transverse wobbling observed in $^{135}$Pr. This is the first observation of a longitudinal wobbling band in nuclei. The experimental observations are accounted for by calculations using the quasiparticle-triaxial-rotor (QTR) model, which attribute the appearance of longitudinal wobbling to the early alignment of a $pi=+$ proton pair.
The rare phenomenon of nuclear wobbling motion has been investigated for the nucleus $^{187}$Au. A longitudinal wobbling-bands pair has been identified and clearly distinguished from the associated signature-partner band on the basis of angular distribution measurements. Theoretical calculations in the framework of the Particle Rotor Model (PRM) are found to agree well with the experimental observations. This is the first experimental evidence for longitudinal wobbling bands where the expected signature partner band has also been identified, and establishes this exotic collective mode as a general phenomenon over the nuclear chart.
The general phenomenon of shell structure in atomic nuclei has been understood since the pioneering work of Goeppert-Mayer, Haxel, Jensen and Suess.They realized that the experimental evidence for nuclear magic numbers could be explained by introducing a strong spin-orbit interaction in the nuclear shell model potential. However, our detailed knowledge of nuclear forces and the mechanisms governing the structure of nuclei, in particular far from stability, is still incomplete. In nuclei with equal neutron and proton numbers ($N = Z$), the unique nature of the atomic nucleus as an object composed of two distinct types of fermions can be expressed as enhanced correlations arising between neutrons and protons occupying orbitals with the same quantum numbers. Such correlations have been predicted to favor a new type of nuclear superfluidity; isoscalar neutron-proton pairing, in addition to normal isovector pairing (see Fig. 1). Despite many experimental efforts these predictions have not been confirmed. Here, we report on the first observation of excited states in $N = Z = 46$ nucleus $^{92}$Pd. Gamma rays emitted following the $^{58}$Ni($^{36}$Ar,2$n$)$^{92}$Pd fusion-evaporation reaction were identified using a combination of state-of-the-art high-resolution {gamma}-ray, charged-particle and neutron detector systems. Our results reveal evidence for a spin-aligned, isoscalar neutron-proton coupling scheme, different from the previous prediction. We suggest that this coupling scheme replaces normal superfluidity (characterized by seniority coupling) in the ground and low-lying excited states of the heaviest N = Z nuclei. The strong isoscalar neutron- proton correlations in these $N = Z$ nuclei are predicted to have a considerable impact on their level structures, and to influence the dynamics of the stellar rapid proton capture nucleosynthesis process.