Shape/Phase Transitions and Critical Point Symmetries in Atomic Nuclei

Abstract

Shape/phase transitions in atomic nuclei have first been discovered in the framework of the Interacting Boson Approximation (IBA) model. Critical point symmetries appropriate for nuclei at the transition points have been introduced as special solutions of the Bohr Hamiltonian, stirring the introduction of additional new solutions describing wide ranges of nuclei. A short review of these recent developments will be attempted.