Nuclear electromagnetic moments by spin-precession methods

Abstract

Nuclear moment studies carried out with spin-precession methods at and after the turn of the millennium are critically assessed. A period of about 30 years is covered, during which much of} the focus of nuclear structure research shifted from high-spin physics to studies of neutron-rich exotic nuclei. The formalism for the extraction of nuclear moments is described. The $β$-nuclear magnetic resonance/nuclear quadrupole resonance ($β$-NMR/NQR), the time-dependent perturbed angular distribution (TDPAD), the transient field, the recoil-in-vacuum (RIV), and the tilted-foils methods for measurements of nuclear magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments are described in detail, as well as the requirements for their application in studies of exotic nuclei. The impact of nuclear-moment measurements on the understanding of key topics of nuclear structure research is discussed. {Key results on short-lived states, mainly from transient-field measurements, are reviewed. Included are comparisons with large-basis shell model calculations, discussions on the nature of weakly-collective nuclei, insights into emerging collectivity away from closed shells, and electromagnetic properties of odd-$A$ rotors.} In the field of high-spin physics, research related to high-spin yrast and $\mathrm{K}$ isomers, superdeformation, magnetic, anti-magnetic, and chiral rotation is covered. In neutron-rich exotic nuclei, studies related to the $\mathrm{N=20}$, $\mathrm{N=28}$ and $\mathrm{N=40}$ ``islands of inversion'', the structure of nuclei around $^{68-78}$Ni and $^{132}$Sn, and in the $A \sim 100$ mass region are discussed.