The available data for E2 transition strengths in the region between neutron-deficient Hf and Pt isotopes are far from complete. More and precise data are needed to enhance the picture of structure evolution in this region and to test state-of-the-ar
t nuclear models. In a simple model, the maximum collectivity is expected at the middle of the major shell. However, for actual nuclei, this picture may no longer be the case, and one should use a more realistic nuclear-structure model. We address this point by studying the spectroscopy of Hf. We remeasure the 2^+_1 half-lives of 172,174,176Hf, for which there is some disagreement in the literature. The main goal is to measure, for the first time, the half-lives of higher-lying states of the rotational band. The new results are compared to a theoretical calculation for absolute transition strengths. The half-lives were measured using gamma-gamma and conversion-electron-gamma delayed coincidences with the fast timing method. For the determination of half-lives in the picosecond region, the generalized centroid difference method was applied. For the theoretical calculation of the spectroscopic properties, the interacting boson model is employed, whose Hamiltonian is determined based on microscopic energy-density functional calculations. The measured 2^+_1 half-lives disagree with results from earlier gamma-gamma fast timing measurements, but are in agreement with data from Coulomb excitation experiments and other methods. Half-lives of the 4^+_1 and 6^+_1 states were measured, as well as a lower limit for the 8^+_1 states. We show the importance of the mass-dependence of effective boson charge in the description of E2 transition rates in chains of nuclei. It encourages further studies of the microscopic origin of this mass dependence. New data on transition rates in nuclei from neighboring isotopic chains could support these studies.
A systematic analysis of low-lying quadrupole and octupole collective states is presented, based on the microscopic energy density functional framework. By mapping the deformation constrained self-consistent axially symmetric mean-field energy surfac
es onto the equivalent Hamiltonian of the $sdf$ interacting boson model (IBM), that is, onto the energy expectation value in the boson condensate state, the Hamiltonian parameters are determined. The study is based on the global relativistic energy density functional DD-PC1. The resulting IBM Hamiltonian is used to calculate excitation spectra and transition rates for the positive- and negative-parity collective states in four isotopic chains characteristic for two regions of octupole deformation and collectivity: Th, Ra, Sm and Ba. Consistent with the empirical trend, the microscopic calculation based on the systematics of $beta_{2}$-$beta_{3}$ energy maps, the resulting low-lying negative-parity bands and transition rates show evidence of a shape transition between stable octupole deformation and octupole vibrations characteristic for $beta_{3}$-soft potentials.
Structural evolution in neutron-rich Os and W isotopes is investigated in terms of the Interacting Boson Model (IBM) Hamiltonian determined by (constrained) Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculations with the Gogny-D1S Energy Density Functional (EDF)
. The interaction strengths of the IBM Hamiltonian are produced by mapping the potential energy surface (PES) of the Gogny-EDF with quadrupole degrees of freedom onto the corresponding PES of the IBM system. We examine the prolate-to-oblate shape/phase transition which is predicted to take place in this region as a function of neutron number $N$ within the considered Os and W isotopic chains. The onset of this transition is found to be more rapid compared to the neighboring Pt isotopes. The calculations also allow prediction of spectroscopic variables (excited state energies and reduced transition probabilities) which are presented for the neutron-rich $^{192,194,196}$W nuclei, for which there is only very limited experimental data available to date.
