Multi-Phonon $γ$-Vibrational Bands and the Triaxial Projected Shell Model

Abstract

We present a fully quantum-mechanical, microscopic, unified treatment of ground-state band and multi-phonon $γ$-vibrational bands using shell model diagonalization with the triaxial projected shell model. The results agree very well with data on the g- and $γ$-band spectra in $^{156-170}$Er, as well as with recently measured $4^+$ 2-phonon $γ$-bandhead energies in $^{166}$Er and $^{168}$Er. Multi-phonon $γ$-excitation energies are predicted.