Nuclear Structure of the Nickel Isotopes

Abstract

The nickel isotopes are described in terms of strongly admixed spherical shell-model configurations of neutrons occupying the $2{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$, $1{f}_{\frac{5}{2}}$, and $2{p}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ orbits. A set of effective-interaction matrix elements is deduced which accurately reproduces the spectra of the Ni isotopes from ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{58}$ to ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{67}$. The wave functions resulting from the calculation of the energy levels are then used to calculate the single-nucleon spectroscopic factors. These are in fairly good agreement with the experimental spectroscopic factors found in pickup and stripping experiments. In addition, some of the results from two-nucleon transfer reactions are compared with the predictions of the present model. Using the wave functions obtained and an effective charge for the neutron, the $E2$ transition probabilities in the even-mass isotopes of Ni are calculated and found to be in agreement with experimental facts.