Shape-phase transitions in nuclei and random interactions

Abstract

In these lecture notes I present a short review of nuclear shapes, shape coexistence and shape-phase transitions in the interacting boson model. In a study with random interactions it is shown that the appearance of regular spectral features is a far more common phenomenon than was previously thought. The origin of these features are explained by studying the relation with the underlying geometric shapes.

Comments: 22 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables. Lectures notes IV International Balkan School on Nuclear Physics, Bodrum, Turkey, September 22-29, 2004