The influence of the quadrupole shape fluctuations on the dipole vibrations in transitional nuclei is investigated in the framework of the Instantaneous Shape Sampling Model, which combines the Interacting Boson Model for the slow collective quadrupo
le motion with the Random Phase Approximation for the rapid dipole vibrations. Coupling to the complex background configurations is taken into account by folding the results with a Lorentzian with an energy dependent width. The low-energy energy portion of the $gamma$- absorption cross section, which is important for photo-nuclear processes, is studied for the isotopic series of Kr, Xe, Ba, and Sm. The experimental cross sections are well reproduced. The low-energy cross section is determined by the Landau fragmentation of the dipole strength and its redistribution caused by the shape fluctuations. Collisional damping only wipes out fluctuations of the absorption cross section, generating the smooth energy dependence observed in experiment. In the case of semi-magic nuclei, shallow pygmy resonances are found in agreement with experiment.
The experimentally observed $Delta I = 1$ doublet bands in some odd-odd nuclei are analyzed within the orthosymplectic extension of the Interacting Vector Boson Model (IVBM). A new, purely collective interpretation of these bands is given on the basi
s of the obtained boson-fermion dynamical symmetry of the model. It is illustrated by its application to three odd-odd nuclei from the $Asim 130$ region, namely $^{126}Pr$, $^{134}Pr$ and $^{132}La$. The theoretical predictions for the energy levels of the doublet bands as well as $E2$ and $M1$ transition probabilities between the states of the yrast band in the last two nuclei are compared with experiment and the results of other theoretical approaches. The obtained results reveal the applicability of the orthosymplectic extension of the IVBM.
