Conjunction of $\gamma$-rigid and $\gamma$-stable collective motion in the critical point of the phase transition from spherical to deformed nuclear shapes

Abstract

Based on the competition between $\gamma$-stable and $\gamma$-rigid collective motions mediated by a rigidity parameter, a two-parameter exactly separable version of the Bohr Hamiltonian is proposed. The $\gamma$-stable part of the Hamiltonian is restricted to stiff oscillations around the $\gamma$ value of the rigid motion. The separated potential for $\beta$ and $\gamma$ shape variables is chosen such that in the lower limit of this parameter, the model recovers exactly the ES-$X(5)$ model, while in the upper limit it tends to the prolate $\gamma$-rigid solution $X(3)$. The combined effect of the rigidity and stiffness parameters on the energy spectrum and wave function is duly investigated. Numerical results are given for few nuclei showing such ambiguous behaviour.