Possible dual bubble-like structure predicted by the relativistic Hartree–Bogoliubov model

Abstract

Experimental observation of [Formula: see text]Si as a proton bubble nuclei has heated up the interest in the study of exotic bubble shaped nuclei. In this work, some of the potential doubly bubble-like (for proton as well as neutron both simultaneously) cases have been explored using relativistic Hartree–Bogoliubov (RHB) in light mass region, specially around N or [Formula: see text]. Further, the role of pairing and the evolution of new shell gaps around [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] and 34 have been investigated, as one moves toward drip lines. This study suggests that the occupancies/vacancies of neutron/proton orbitals for lower angular momentum state plays major role in nuclear structure to create bubble-like structure and [Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]Mg8 and [Formula: see text]Si[Formula: see text] may have dual bubble-like structures.