Unveiling the origin of shape coexistence in lead isotopes

Abstract

The shape coexistence in the nuclei ${}^{182-192}$Pb is analyzed within the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach with the effective Gogny force. A good agreement with the experimental energies is found for the coexisting spherical, oblate and prolate states. Contrary to the established interpretation, it is found that the low-lying prolate and oblate $0^{+}$ states observed in this mass region are predominantly characterized by neutron correlations whereas the protons behave as spectators rather than playing an active role.

Comments: 5 pages, 6 postscript figures