Critical-point boundary for the nuclear quantum phase transition near A=100 from mass measurements of (96,97)Kr.
Mass measurements of (96,97)Kr using the ISOLTRAP Penning-trap spectrometer at CERN-ISOLDE are reported, extending the mass surface beyond N=60 for Z=36. These new results show behavior in sharp contrast to the heavier neighbors where a sudden and intense deformation is present. We interpret this as the establishment of a nuclear quantum phase transition critical-point boundary. The new masses confirm findings from nuclear mean-square charge-radius measurements up to N=60 but are at variance with conclusions from recent gamma-ray spectroscopy.
Naimi
S
S
CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, Université de Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay, France.
Audi
G
G
Beck
D
D
Blaum
K
K
Böhm
Ch
Ch
Borgmann
Ch
Ch
Breitenfeldt
M
M
George
S
S
Herfurth
F
F
Herlert
A
A
Kowalska
M
M
Kreim
S
S
Lunney
D
D
Neidherr
D
D
Rosenbusch
M
M
Schwarz
S
S
Schweikhard
L
L
Zuber
K
K