Evidence for a possible E(5) symmetry in 134Ba

Evidence for the first empirical example of a transitional dynamical symmetry at a critical point is discussed in the spectrum of 134Ba. The role of such classes of symmetries in nuclear structural evolution is also discussed.

Generalization of the N(p)N(n)N(p)N(n) scheme and the structure of the valence space

The N(p)N(n) scheme, which has been extensively applied to even-even nuclei, is found to be a very good benchmark for odd-even, even-odd, and doubly-odd nuclei as well. There are no apparent shifts in the correlations for these four classes of nuclei. The compact correlations highlight the deviant behavior of the Z = 78 nuclei and are used to deduce effective valence proton numbers near Z = 64 as well as to study the evolution of the Z = 64 subshell gap.

Robust nuclear observables and constraints on random interactions

The predictions of the interacting boson model two-body random ensemble are compared to empirical results on nuclei from Z = 8-100. Heretofore unrecognized but robust empirical trends are identified and related both to the distribution of valence nucleon numbers and to the need for and applicability of specific, nonrandom interactions. Applications to expected trends in exotic nuclei are discussed.