Shape coexistence in Zr from a model-independent analysis

N. Marchini; M. Rocchini; M. Zielińska; A. Nannini; D. T. Doherty; N. Gavrielov; P. E. Garrett; K. Hadyńska-Klȩk; A. Goasduff; D. Testov; S. D. Bakes; D. Bazzacco; G. Benzoni; T. Berry; D. Brugnara; F. Camera; W. N. Catford; M. Chiari; F. Galtarossa; N. Gelli; A. Gottardo; A. Gozzelino; A. Illana; J. Keatings; D. Mengoni; L. Morrison; D. R. Napoli; M. Ottanelli; P. Ottanelli; G. Pasqualato; F. Recchia; S. Riccetto; M. Scheck; M. Siciliano; J. J. Valiente Dóbon; I. Zanon

doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140668

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Shape coexistence in Zr from a model-independent analysis

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Shape coexistence in Zr from a model-independent analysis

N. Marchini, M. Rocchini, M. Zielińska, A. Nannini, D. T. Doherty, N. Gavrielov, P. E. Garrett, K. Hadyńska-Klȩk, A. Goasduff, D. Testov, …

Physics letters. B, Vol.879, 140668

01/08/2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140668

Abstract

Low-energy Coulomb excitation

Nuclear structure

Shape coexistence

Low-lying states of Zr were investigated via low-energy multi-step Coulomb excitation. From the measured γ -ray yields, 16 reduced E2 transition probabilities between low-spin states were determined, together with the spectroscopic quadrupole moments of the 2 states. Based on this information, for the first time in the Zr isotopic chain, the shapes of the 0 states including their deformation softness were inferred in a model-independent way using the quadrupole sum rules approach. The ground state of Zr possesses a rather diffuse shape associated with a spherical configuration, while the 0 state is triaxial tending towards oblate and more strongly deformed. The observed features of shape coexistence in Zr are consistent with both Monte-Carlo shell-model predictions and IBM-CM calculations, and provide model-independent constraints on the shape character assigned in the IBM-CM to the intruder configuration in Zr.

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Title: Shape coexistence in Zr from a model-independent analysis
Creators: N. Marchini - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze
M. Rocchini - Florence (Netherlands)
M. Zielińska - Université Paris-Saclay
A. Nannini - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze
D. T. Doherty - School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
N. Gavrielov - Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds
P. E. Garrett - University of Guelph
K. Hadyńska-Klȩk - University of Warsaw
A. Goasduff - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
D. Testov - University of Padua
S. D. Bakes - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova
D. Bazzacco - Studi
G. Benzoni - Mylan (Switzerland)
T. Berry - School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
D. Brugnara - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
F. Camera - University of Milan
W. N. Catford - University of Surrey, School of Maths and Physics
M. Chiari - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze
F. Galtarossa - Université Paris-Saclay
N. Gelli - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze
A. Gottardo - DELL (United States)
A. Gozzelino - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
A. Illana - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
J. Keatings - University of the West of Scotland
D. Mengoni - Studi
L. Morrison - University of Surrey, School of Maths and Physics
D. R. Napoli - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
M. Ottanelli - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze
P. Ottanelli - University of Florence
G. Pasqualato - Université Paris-Saclay
F. Recchia - INFN Sezione di Padova
S. Riccetto - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Perugia
M. Scheck - University of the West of Scotland
M. Siciliano - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
J. J. Valiente Dóbon - Universitat de València
I. Zanon - University of Ferrara
Publication Details: Physics letters. B, Vol.879, 140668
Publisher: Elsevier; AMSTERDAM
Number of pages: 7
First online publication date: 20/06/2026
Publication Date: 01/08/2026
Grant note: GAMMAPOOL Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (http://data.elsevier.com/vocabulary/SciValFunders/501100000038)
Identifiers: 991161060102346; WOS:001815243000001
Academic Unit: School of Maths and Physics
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Shape coexistence in Zr from a model-independent analysis

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