Shape transition and oblate-prolate coexistence in N=Z fpg-shell nuclei

Abstract

Nuclear shape transition and oblate-prolate coexistence in $N=Z$ nuclei are investigated within the configuration space ($2p_{3/2}$, $1f_{5/2}$, $2p_{1/2}$, and $1g_{9/2}$). We perform shell model calculations for $^{60}$Zn, $^{64}$Ge, and $^{68}$Se and constrained Hartree-Fock (CHF) calculations for $^{60}$Zn, $^{64}$Ge, $^{68}$Se, and $^{72}$Kr, employing an effective pairing plus quadrupole residual interaction with monopole interactions. The shell model calculations reproduce well the experimental energy levels of these nuclei. From the analysis of potential energy surface in the CHF calculations, we found shape transition from prolate to oblate deformation in these $N=Z$ nuclei and oblate-prolate coexistence at $^{68}$Se. The ground state of $^{68}$Se has oblate shape, while the shape of $^{60}$Zn and $^{64}$Ge are prolate. It is shown that the isovector matrix elements between $f_{5/2}$ and $p_{1/2}$ orbits cause the oblate deformation for $^{68}$Se, and four-particle four-hole ($4p-4h$) excitations are important for the oblate configuration.