Rotating Clusters in Nuclei

Abstract

Values of R, the radius of rotation of the rotating cluster, are calculated from the energy of the lowest 2+ level of even–even nuclei with the assumption that the cluster consists of p2 or n2 respectively, for N or P magic, and of a helion (α) for N or P differing from a magic number by ± 2. The values as a function of A show a zigzag course, which is correlated with the polyspheron structure of the nuclei. If the mantle is not overcrowded the rotating cluster moves within the mantle. When the mantle becomes overcrowded the cluster glides over the surface of the mantle and the value of R increases by one spheron diameter, about 3.2 fm. At certain values of N a change in structure of the nucleus occurs, with increase in radius of the core by half a spheron diameter, permitting the cluster to drop back into the mantle, with decrease in R by half a spheron diameter. In the lanthanon region of permanent prolate deformation the rotating cluster is a polyhelion, containing the number of helions permitted by the difference between Z or N and the nearest magic number, and in the actinon region it contains all the nucleons beyond 208Pb, with maximum p10n16. An explanation is given of the difference between these regions.