Shape coexistence and disappearance of pairing correlations in 82Sr

Abstract Extensive high-spin band structures in 82 Sr have been established using proton- γ - γ coincidence techniques. On the basis of the Woods-Saxon cranking calculations with pairing, four of these bands are interpreted to have prolate, oblate, or triaxial shapes. Pairing correlations are predicted to be very weak at high spins in this nucleus, and calculations with no static pairing successfully reproduce the experimentally observed crossing frequencies and alignments despite the fact that none of the bands displays a rigid-rotor behavior. It is concluded that observation of rigid-rotor behavior is neither necessary nor sufficient for the disappearance of static pairing in nuclei.